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It’s described as one
of the most challenging, yet rewarding, positions in
police work.
The Smithfield Police Department has
formed a K9 Officer Program which operates within the
patrol division.
A human-canine officer team is a tried
and true law enforcement tool. With their keen sense of
eyesight, speed and sense of smell, police dogs can
perform some tasks faster and at lower cost than human
officers with less risk to officers and the public.
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Police Service Dogs are used
in a variety of situations: |
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To search
for hidden suspects;
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To apprehend
fleeing suspects;
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To search
for lost persons;
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To search
for evidence;
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To protect
the handler, other officers and
citizens;
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To clear
vehicles after a high risk felony stop;
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To conduct
public demonstrations;
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To search
for and detect the odor of narcotics;
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To be a
visual deterrent of crime.
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This free
script provided by
Dynamic Drive |
Frequently people outside of law
enforcement misunderstand how the dogs are actually used
and deployed. This misunderstanding is reinforced by
the media, movies, and fictional references, which
mistakenly show the dog’s aggression more than they
depict how a modern Police K9 is truly used. The Police
Service Dog is often ill perceived as a vicious,
snarling animal. Police Service Dogs are occasionally
needed to apprehend criminals by biting, but its true
designed use is to locate suspects who are hiding.
Biting is only a very small facet of what the dog can be
used for in Police Work. The vast majority of K9
deployments results in no one being bitten. As a
“force” tool, the Police Service Dog is very unique in
that the dog can be recalled and stopped unlike the
swing of a baton, a spray of chemical agents or a bullet
when fired by a gun which cannot be stopped while in
motion.
Mike &
Paxson
Smithfield’s first K9 Team, Ptl. Gilmore
and a Slovakish, German Shepherd named Paxson, completed
a rigorous 10 week (400 hour) training program with the
RI State Police on July 11, 2008. They are now
certified in patrol work and will return for another
eight weeks of training next spring to become certified
in narcotics detection. Paxson came from Germany and
spent approximately one month in Ohio with a kennel
owner before joining Mike. Paxson was born on April 6,
2007 and looks forward to going to work everyday.
Although he has calm demeanor, Mike does not suggest
that anyone approach him. As with any police dog, they
are trained to protect their handler, so please use
caution when around working dogs.
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Did You Know?
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Dogs
live with the handlers and their families.
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When
a working dog is retired most of them will live with
the handler and their family
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Dogs
chosen must have a strong retrieval drive, above
average curiosity, and be fearless and outgoing.
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German Shepherds are used extensively because they
have a good balance of all these qualities.
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Most
dogs will work for 5-7 years.
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Keeping Paxson Safe
To keep Paxson safe while he is riding,
Mike’s police car is a Ford Expedition with a kennel
insert in the back seat. This helps protect in case of
a crash. If the temperature inside the car rises above
90 degrees, a fan turns on automatically and the windows
roll down. A monitor Mike wears on his duty belt alerts
him. The kennel insert has a spill proof water bowl and
room for Paxson to move around.
Want to
Know More?
The
United
States Police Canine Association has information on
K9 Programs across the country.
Donating
to Smithfield’s K9 Program
If you’d like to send a tax-deductible
donation, please make the check payable to the Town of
Smithfield and put on the memo that it is for the K9
Program. Send the check to:
Smithfield Police Department
Attn: Finance Department
215 Pleasant View Avenue
Smithfield, RI 02917
Some recent donors are United Rentals
(Smithfield) which donated the use of equipment, Robert
Dionne Electric who donated electrical supplies for the
heat/light hook-up and Jeffrey St. Germain who donated
labor for the installation to bring
electricity & heat to Paxson's living quarters, Wal-Mart which
provided a check for $1,500.00 and East Side Enterprises
which gave $100.00. K9 Paxson was recently given a
bullet/stab proof vest valued at approximately $850.00
courtesy of RI Vest a Dog.
To learn more about Smithfield’s K9
Program, contact:
Ptl. Mike
Gilmore
Smithfield Police Department
215 Pleasant View Avenue
Smithfield, RI 02917
(401) 231-2500 Ext. 225
pgilmore@smithfieldpd.com |
