K-9 powers on display at police dog trials in Gloucester Township
Officer Jim Sapia from the Tinton Falls (N.J.) Police Department opened the rear window of his patrol car. Inside, half-hidden behind a dark, ventilated shield, his K-9 partner, Hunter, was breathing noisily, staring intensely, ready for whatever Sapia commanded.
Officer Jim Sapia from the Tinton Falls (N.J.) Police Department opened the rear window of his patrol car. Inside, half-hidden behind a dark, ventilated shield, his K-9 partner, Hunter, was breathing noisily, staring intensely, ready for whatever Sapia commanded.
Just the sight of the 41/2-year-old Belgian Malinois gave flight-minded suspects a whole new attitude during car stops.
"Before I got him," Sapia said, "I had people bail on me, so I had to do car chases and all that stuff. Now, I just open the window, people see him barking, going crazy, and that's enough. I haven't had a single one bail on me since I got Hunter."
Like Hunter, dozens of the best-trained police dogs in North America converged on a ballfield in Gloucester Township, N.J., on Sunday to practice climbing a steep ladder, leaping over a six-foot barrier, searching for suspects, and apprehending criminals.
Representing more than 150 police K-9 units, the dogs and their handlers honed their law enforcement skills on the eve of this week's United States Police Canine Association National Patrol Dog Trials, hosted by the Gloucester Township Police Department.
Waiting to work out on the obedience course with his German shepherd K-9 partner, Titan, Sgt. Kevin Welsh from the Galloway Township (N.J.) Police Department said his first dog, Sabre, who served from 2004 until his death in 2011, was so popular with schoolchildren that they raised $2,500 to buy him a bulletproof vest.
Titan now wears Sabre's vest when he's tracking and chasing criminals. Off duty, when he's wearing his "home collar," Titan turns into a gentle giant, palling around with Welsh's sons, 3 and 1. "Titan has a switch, and he flicks it on and off," Welsh said. "Put his work collar on and he's ready to rock 'n' roll."
K-9 Officer Ricardo Rivera from the City of Newburgh Police Department in New York put Bane, his young German shepherd, through the agility course and said, "The great thing about being a K-9 officer is, you always have a partner with you, no matter what. If things start to go south, you just pop your door open. You don't have to wait for backup. It gives you a feeling of confidence. I wouldn't give this up for anything."
The Escambia County (Florida) Sheriff's Department was out in force at Sunday's practice, sending six of its 15 K-9s to the national trials.
Deputy Stephanie Cassidy said her black German shepherd, Kaiser, who is both patrol- and narcotics-certified, had helped put more than 100 people in jail and, like his fellow K-9 competitors, would be tested on apprehending criminals with and without gunfire because, she said, "We don't want him to run away from gunfire. We want him to run toward gunfire."
Cassidy's friend, Mary Land, whose husband, Deputy Jason Land, worked the agility course with his K-9, Edo, a 100-pound German shepherd, said patrol dogs are amazing because they capture bad guys on the job but at home, "When I first introduced Edo to my newborn daughter, he walked over and licked her face, licked her from head to toe. At home, he's just a big teddy bear."
Deputy Wayne Gulsby, who has been a K-9 officer for the last 15 of his 30 years with the Escambia County Sheriff's Department, worked Caleb, his 6-year-old German shepherd, through the obedience course and said, "I've got eight children, 28 grandchildren, and one on the way, so you know I'm a family guy, but I spend more time on the job than anywhere else, and I'd rather do this than anything."
Gulsby, 52, said that during his early years as a corrections officer, he was given his first chance to work with a K-9 dog. "Once I was the one holding the leash, that was it," he said, laughing heartily. "I was hooked."
Years ago, when he was promoted to sergeant, "I took a voluntary demotion to be a K-9 patrol officer," he said.
After the Monday-through-Thursday championships at Community Park, daily 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Peter Cheeseman and Hickstown Roads), there will be a grand finale parade, K-9 demonstration, and fireworks at Timber Creek High School in Sicklerville, beginning at 4:30 p.m.
The weekend's one celebrity sighting was Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, whose foundation supports police department K-9 units, and who stopped by Saturday's practice sessions to schmooze, knowing he'd be busy on Sunday afternoon at Lincoln Financial Field.
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