Cop school: the K9 corps
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| MPO Harford and Scout |
The K9 corps plays a key unit of the Fairfax County Police
Department, tracking suspects, victims, evidence, and lost children, Master
Police Officer Rob Harford told participants at a recent session of the Fairfax
County Citizens’ Police Academy.
Department, tracking suspects, victims, evidence, and lost children, Master
Police Officer Rob Harford told participants at a recent session of the Fairfax
County Citizens’ Police Academy.
Harford works with Scout, a black German Shepherd, who can
track human odors on pavement, as well as grass, and can detect seven types of
illegal drugs.
track human odors on pavement, as well as grass, and can detect seven types of
illegal drugs.
Scout is one of 13 dogs in the K9 corps, which includes two
bloodhounds. Harford calls Scout a “light switch dog,” which means he will bite
and hold a suspect if commanded to do so. He’s also a “ball reward dog.” After he
accomplishes a task, Scout gets to play with a ball. According to Harford, Scout
is motivated by love and play, rather than food, like the dogs in the bomb unit.
bloodhounds. Harford calls Scout a “light switch dog,” which means he will bite
and hold a suspect if commanded to do so. He’s also a “ball reward dog.” After he
accomplishes a task, Scout gets to play with a ball. According to Harford, Scout
is motivated by love and play, rather than food, like the dogs in the bomb unit.
A few weeks ago, the pair worked on a daytime stabbing case
in Fair Oaks. Scout found the victim by tracking the blood dripping from a
severe head wound, then found the bad guy with the evidence—a stolen wallet and
narcotics.
In another recent incident, Scout
tracked down and sneaked up on a guy who was armed and was threatening to kill
himself. The guy tried to fight, but Scout was able to subdue him. “The dog allows us to be so much safer, instead of going
blindly into the woods,” Harford says.
tracked down and sneaked up on a guy who was armed and was threatening to kill
himself. The guy tried to fight, but Scout was able to subdue him. “The dog allows us to be so much safer, instead of going
blindly into the woods,” Harford says.
The K9s go through a 14-week training process, working with
a handler 10 hours a day. After that, the training continues for one or two
hours a day for a month. Scout was born in Hungary and was purchased for $4,700
five years ago. After the training, he’s worth about $8,000, Harford says.
a handler 10 hours a day. After that, the training continues for one or two
hours a day for a month. Scout was born in Hungary and was purchased for $4,700
five years ago. After the training, he’s worth about $8,000, Harford says.
It’s amazing how these dogs can distinguish their prey among
a crowd of people. For example, there was an incident involving a suspect who
beat up a man at a McDonald’s, stole his laptop, and ran out the door. Scout
trailed the guy down the street and found him minutes later trying to hide.
a crowd of people. For example, there was an incident involving a suspect who
beat up a man at a McDonald’s, stole his laptop, and ran out the door. Scout
trailed the guy down the street and found him minutes later trying to hide.
Once the dogs latch onto a scent, they go really fast,
pulling their handler through the woods, Harford says. To work with the K9s,
police officers have to master an obstacle course, have an excellent shooting
score, and throw an 80-pound log over a fence.
pulling their handler through the woods, Harford says. To work with the K9s,
police officers have to master an obstacle course, have an excellent shooting
score, and throw an 80-pound log over a fence.
The dogs live with their handler’s family when not working. Food
for the K9s is donated by Royal Canin, which is owned by Mars Inc., the McLean-based candy company. The K9 corps is based at the Operations Support Bureau on Woodburn Road in Annandale, along with the Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit and the SWAT team.
for the K9s is donated by Royal Canin, which is owned by Mars Inc., the McLean-based candy company. The K9 corps is based at the Operations Support Bureau on Woodburn Road in Annandale, along with the Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit and the SWAT team.
