Narcotics, explosives focus for testing last week; dogs called ‘invaluable resource’

SUBMITTED PHOTO/BAYSIDE GAZETTE
Several Berlin Police Department and Worcester Bureau of Investigation K-9 officers receive certifications after testing last week in Powellville, Maryland. The following K-9 officers and their handlers who participated, from left, are Senior Ofc. Aaron Titerence and Cyrus, Det. Cpl. Jessica Collins and Dock, and Cpl. Chris Bireley, with Luke.

By Rachel Ravina, Staff Writer

(Dec. 19, 2019) Several K-9 officers and their handlers with the Berlin Police Department underwent testing for an annual certification last week in Powellville.

Cpl. Chris Bireley and K-9 officer Luke, an 8-year old German shepherd, Cpl. Jessica Collins and K-9 officer Dock, a 2-year-old golden retriever, and Senior Ofc. Aaron Titerence and K-9 officer Cyrus, a 5- year-old malinois, participated in the detection testing through the Eastern Shore Criminal Justice Academy at Wor-Wic Community College.

Luke, a narcotics K-9, completed testing to find drugs inside and outside vehicles, inside buildings and inside lockers, Bireley said.

Bireley added Luke needed to identify the smell of cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and methamphetamine.

K-9 officer Dock focuses on explosives, according to Collins. To obtain a certification, Dock needed to find explosives in several places on the interior and exterior of a vehicle and in an area. Additionally, Dock would need to sniff out materials used to make a bomb.

The K-9 officers will work to complete the second part of the certification next month, when they will focus on several areas, including tracking, patrol work and bite work, Collins said.

In order to keep the K-9 officers in tip-top shape, Collins said they conduct monthly exercises as part of the K-9 officer training program. She

added that they also work to “increase the difficulty” by expanding the coverage area and leaving the object out longer.

“We are constantly working with them because we want them to be the best, and do their best, so any chance that we can [do] to set up problems and do work, they work constantly,” Collins said.

Collins and K-9 officer Dock, members of the Worcester Bureau of Investigation, are called to assist in the event of bomb or suspicious packet threats at several places, including at schools and event spaces, she said. He also helps find firearms.

Collins also said the task force helps neighboring counties and she’s previously conducted safety checks prior to events at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center in Salisbury.

As for K-9 office Luke, he’s on patrol with Birely and helps with detecting drugs during traffic stops, he said.

“Then they call Luke to sniff the outside of the vehicle,” Bireley said.

Collins said that any dog is eligible to become a K-9 officer, but having certain traits helps to be successful, including “hunt drive” and training.

“They just have to possess the qualities necessary and the want to do the job,” Collins said.

For example, Collins said that Dock’s responsibilities with explosives and firearms are well suited for his breed.

“He has a good nose on him. He’s really good at tracking and finding explosives and guns and things, so we kind of keep them breed-specific as far as what they’re good at,” she said.

Collins also said the K-9 officers play a vital role in the safety of the community in Berlin and Worcester County.

“They’re an invaluable resource for the officer mainly because their smell and their ability to do their job is far more superior than what humans can detect as far as the odor recognition,” she said. “So without them, I mean there’d be a lot more drugs, a lot more threats out there.”

For Bireley, he said that K-9 officer Luke serves as a companion while on duty.

“Actually for me, it’s just nice having the dog with me, because I mean many times I’m the only officer working in the whole town, so having him there as a backup is comforting for me,” he said.