SUMMER Inside this issue: LONG BEACH K-9 OFFICERS ASSOCIATION

Transcription

1 SUMMER 2013 LONG BEACH K-9 OFFICERS ASSOCIATION March 3, 2008 About 1,000 of the military personnel who have served on the front lines of the war in Iraq look quite different from the rest. They are dogs. Mostly Belgian Malinois and German Shepherds, some Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers, these war canines are trained to take bullets for their comrades, detect roadside bombs and sniff out other dangers. They typically serve the Department of Defense for 10 to 13 years, often with longer and more frequent deployments than their handlers. Three have been killed this time around in Iraq, and many more have been seriously wounded. Consequently, they sometimes need a little R and R. Camp Pendleton in southern California is where they get it. Dogs are not new to battle. Four-legged soldiers and Marines have served the U.S. military in many capacities since World War I. The challenge in Iraq, however, is the weather. Blowing sand and scorching 130-degree heat take a toll on the dogs. It gets to the point where a lot of the grunts help out, Maple says. You re going on a 10-mile walking patrol, they ll come up Hey, we ll carry some water for your dog. By Gloria Hillard (NPR-National Public Radio) This year during our annual K-9 school, we had the opportunity to train with U.S.M.C. Military Working Dogs from Camp Pendleton. In the planning stages of our school, I made contact with MSgt Randy Scifo, (Special Operations Chief Marine Corps Police Department) and asked U.S.M.C. and L.B.P.D. K-9 TRAINING By Officer Ernie Wolosewicz him if we could use some of their ranges. I proposed we conduct joint training in their combat village. MSgt Scifo really liked the idea but was unable to secure the ranges we needed. I was encouraged by his motivation in seeking out training for his dog handlers so I invited his teams to train with us in Long Beach. Our annual school is a time for us to work on deployments that are not commonly trained, or to try new techniques and deployment tactics. This year we worked on water deployments, raising and lowering the K-9 s up to a roof top, long exposure gas searches, and use of the SIMMS (Simulated Munitions) house where we did search, move and shoot drills with our dogs. As we came to find out the MWD teams had little experience in these types of deployments, so they were excited to have the opportunity to expose their dogs. I have included some photos of the Marines during training. One photo shows all the Marines taking a picture with Al Gerbino. Al owns Tank One Productions. He has a huge water tank (50 diameter and 16 deep). It holds 290,000 gallons of water. Al lets us use his tank and building, at will, for training. He is a huge supporter of the Long Beach K- 9 unit. Other photos show Marines on our police boats learning how to board boats. The Marines were very thankful for the training and exposure they received in Long Beach; never before has this type of training been offered to them by a police agency. They have extended an invitation to train on their base in August when the range becomes available. The LBPD K-9 handlers truly showed how knowledgeable and experienced they are. All of our K-9 handlers took time to train the Marine Corps handlers in police tactics, handler safety, and handling techniques. The patience, skill, professionalism and motivation displayed by our handlers was commendable. Our handlers not only participated in their own training but also put forth extra effort to make sure the Marine Corps handlers were receiving the proper training. They left no question unanswered and offered actual deployment examples from their own experiences. I am proud of our detail for representing the Long Beach Police Department with honor and respect for our Marine Corps brothers. Inside this issue: President s Message 2 Sergeant s Report 3 Car Show 4, 5 Crime Crusher 6,7 SWAT Deployment 7

2 Page 2 K9 COLLAR ASSOCIATION OFFICERS Dan Kachel President Shirley Vaughan Vice President Nancy Cotton Financial Secretary Steve Ditmars Recording Secretary Janie Bordelon Correspondence Secretary BOARD OF DIRECTORS Richard Aden Peter Blair Vince Bunting Nancy Hanania Laura Mathews Michael McGinnis John Vogler HONORARY BOARD Thomas W. Beighlie, DVM Accountant Toni Ellis K-9 Officer Advisor Sgt. Marcus Hodge The Long Beach K-9 Officer s Association is a non-profit corporation. Federal Tax ID# The K-9 Collar is published quarterly by the Long Beach K-9 Officers Association. Subscriptions are a benefit of membership in the Association. Correspondence and change of address should be mailed to: K-9 Collar P.O. Box Long Beach, CA This past May we had another very successful K-9 Car Show and Demonstration. We had an excellent crowd that enjoyed the music, food, beautiful cars, and an exciting demonstration performed by the K-9 handlers and their K-9 partners. See the photos and read the article elsewhere in this edition, written by Officer Ernie Wolosewicz. Take note of the list of generous sponsors of this year s event and patronize them when you can. Later in May, Ernie and I assisted Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske of the Fifth District with her Open Up Long Beach program by meeting with her and her constituents at the Police Officers Association PRESIDENT S REPORT Park to present a behind the scenes look at the LBPD K-9 Detail. Ernie discussed training techniques and K-9 selection criteria, and demonstrated a variety of gear, including vests, harnesses, cameras, and other technology the K-9 detail uses for their own personal safety and for the safety of their K-9 partners, when dealing with suspects in dangerous situations. When Ernie got called out to a search, ending his presentation early, I took the group on a tour of the kennels and K-9 training facility. We ended the tour at the K-9 cemetery, where all our deceased service dogs lay in rest after having served their handlers, the Police department, and the City of Long Beach. It was a real opportunity for the community to be able to recognize the skills and training involved in making the K-9 Detail the prestigious unit it is today, as well as to honor the K-9 s who served before them. It was a successful and enjoyable evening for all who attended. Finally, another big Thank You! to the members, sponsors and donors who support the Long Beach K-9 Officers Association. You are the reasons we are able to support the K-9 Unit. Dan Kachel, President Board of Directors

3 SUMMER 2013 Page 3 Long Beach Police Service Dog Unit Corporal Greg Manis Jhonny Officer Bill Kift Brayen Officer Mike Parcells Kyra Officer Ernie Wolosewicz Zerek, Kasia & Kazik Officer Mike Wooldridge Basco Officer Joe Valenzuela Paco Officer Vic Ortiz Trex Officer Jerry Carter Drago & Thor Officer Phil Golia Nala Det. Luis Rodriguez Abby Det. Bernardo Barajas Chaco The Police Service Dog Unit (PSDU) has been very active the last several months. The PSDU has played a critical role in the successful resolution of many critical incidents while also participating in numerous community events. The PSDU put on an outstanding K-9 demonstration for a large crowd at the annual LBK9OA Car Show. The demonstrations occurred after the S.W.A.T. K-9 handlers responded to a critical incident and were integral in its successful resolution. They were able to smoothly transition from preparing for the K-9 demonstration, to handling a critical incident resulting in the apprehension of an armed and dangerous felon, to giving numerous professional K-9 demonstrations to the crowd. The PSDU s dedication and professionalism were exemplified on this day. After the Boston Marathon bombing tragedy, the EOD (Explosive Ordinance Detection) K-9 s were an integral part of security at the Long Beach Grand Prix. The U.S. Coast Guard, Los Angeles Port Police, Corona Police Department, and Fontana Police Department EOD K-9 s assisted Long Beach Police Department EOD K-9 s and working together they facilitated a successful operation. Outstanding work, handlers! The Patrol PSDU s continue to perform at an outstanding level. Numerous armed and dangerous felony suspects have been taken into custody with their assistance. The citizens of Long Beach and surrounding cities are safer as a result of the Patrol PSDU s hard work and dedication. The Narcotics Detection PSDU s also continue to perform at an outstanding level. Narcotic Detection PSDU s have been instrumental in locating substantial amounts of concealed controlled substances. They are frequently requested to assist other law enforcement agencies as they have an outstanding reputation in the law enforcement community. The skill level and knowledge that each handler possesses is a reflection of the pride and passion that each handler has for the PSDU. Their professionalism and commitment to excellence is a testament to the caliber of officers assigned to the PSDU. All of the K-9 handlers are to be commended for their outstanding work, tremendous dedication, and they are a credit to the Long Beach Police Department and the City of Long Beach. Finally, we d like to thank the members of the Long Beach K-9 Officers Association. We are humbled and are deeply appreciative of your dedication and support of the Long Beach Police Department s PSDU. Regards, Marcus Sergeant s Report By Sergeant Marcus Hodge, Air Support and K-9 Units

4 Page 4 K9 COLLAR Thank you to the Sponsors (in no particular order) of the 2013 K-9 Car Show and Demonstration! Car Show Photos Courtesy of Tina Singh and Don Roberts Lawrence Volk Dr. Steven Wasserman, D.C. Marianne Appel Ralphs - Tim Mitchell, Manager Hof's Hut - Paul Bowman, V.P. Enrique's Mexican Restaurant K Pasta Coast Tickets Felicia Behar Transcom Services John Berg 4 Wheel Parts Wholesalers Bob Campanelli C& C Automotive Distributors Jeff Vulo Baker Bearing - Darlene Rossmoor Car Wash Brad Hooper Glenn E. Thomas Dodge Chris Brodeur, Parts Mgr. Maribel Godoy Incredible Journey Travel Pat Ellington Nolan & Barbara Henderson Kristina Albrecht National Construction Rentals Javier Gastelum, Div. Mgr. Johnny Rocket & the V-Twins Randy Jones Long Beach Police Explorers Grand Prix Association of Long Beach LBPOA Honoraries Frank Godoy Phil Lambert Jack Gray Caruso Ford El Zarape Mexican Restaurant Norm Saumure Kristen Bunting Vince Bunting (Son) Julie Bunting Sunny Henderson Jim & Joyce Meiers Tony Ellis Mary Parson Patty Heintzelman Christi Villasenor Delightful Crepes Café Sultans Car Club Laura Mathews

5 Page 5 K9 COLLAR 2013 K-9 Car Show & Demonstration By Officer Ernie Wolosewicz The K-9 association car show is a wonderful event that gives the public a chance to see our K-9 partners in action. It is a fun day full of good music, good food and good people. The Sultans put on an excellent show of their support to the LBPD K-9 detail by hosting the car show. Without their support our car show would not be the success it always is. The Sultans should be congratulated for their community minded efforts. They are an excellent example of men and women dedicated to a good way of life in our great city, Long Beach! Most of the public that come to watch the K-9 demonstration enjoy the various scenarios that usually end up in a dog biting a decoy. It is fun and exciting to watch and our dogs enjoy doing it. We try to mix it up by adding gun fire, SWAT vehicles, rappelling, car chases and the helicopter, but in the end somebody will be taken down by one the courageous dogs. What people may not understand is that biting is the easy part. It takes a lot of training and discipline to maintain control of the dog and have him perform tasks correctly. Our K-9 detail trains for many hours in what we call control work. When you see a handler call a dog off before he can reach a decoy, or a dog run up to a decoy and bark at him instead of biting, that is called control work. Our K-9 detail has strict standards that require our handlers to have complete control of their K-9 partners, and they certify to those standards on a quarterly basis. This past show was an excellent example how capable and professional the Long Beach Police K-9 detail is. What most people don t know is that the morning of the car show, the K-9 detail was deployed on a SWAT call. The call-out took the whole morning, up to the start of the K -9 demo. The handlers usually do a couple of practice runs for each skit prior to the show to make sure the skits run smoothly. On this day we had no time to practice. Our handlers and K-9 partners were hot and tired from a long deployment but came back seconds before the show started and performed like the true professionals they are. This show was a snap shot of how well trained the K-9 detail is. The K-9 detail did not want to let down their loyal supporters. We hope that our last minute K- 9 demo did not reflect poorly. We enjoy the interaction with the public and the chance to show a lighter side of what is always so serious and life threatening. Thank you, from all of us in the LBPD K-9 detail!

6 Page 6 K9 COLLAR CRIME CRUSHERS By Officer Mike Parcells and K-9 Kyra By Officer Jerry Carter and K-9 Thor As I was on patrol in West Division, I heard a unit come on the air and advise that he was in pursuit of a stolen vehicle, which was headed Eastbound Willow approaching Long Beach Blvd. The pursuit was headed straight toward my direction. Suddenly the stolen vehicle turned Southbound on Long Beach Blvd, as I was sitting at the intersection. I was now number 3 in the pursuit. The pursuit continued all throughout our West Division. As the suspect vehicle pulled into the alley, I heard a unit say that he was in foot pursuit after the suspect. I quickly grabbed Kyra out of the car and when I came around the corner, the suspect was running across Long Beach Blvd. I gave an announcement for the suspect to stop, and then I sent Kyra on a directed apprehension. As Kyra was closing on the suspect, he quickly jumped the fence which separates Long Beach Blvd. Kyra jumped up and barely missed the suspect. The suspect continued to flee across Long Beach Blvd, and went into the neighborhood, on the south side of the street. As I caught up to Kyra and helped her over the fence, she immediately started a detailed search of every little crevasse where somebody could hide. As we moved down the block, I thought to myself, this guy may have gotten out of our perimeter, but we were so close! We came to the last yard on the block. As I opened the gate to the yard, it looked as if nobody had cut the grass for a year. The entire yard was over grown with weeds, bushes and buried lawn furniture. I made a K-9 announcement, and released Kyra into the yard. It was almost funny watching her jump in and out of the weeds. As she worked her way to the back of the yard, I saw her go into a laundry room, and seconds later, we could hear screaming coming from the laundry room. As we moved up to the door, I saw the suspect. Kyra was biting him on the lower leg. I told the suspect to show his hands. The suspect reached out, and I immediately called Kyra back to me. My search team then moved up and handcuffed the felony suspect. It turns out that the suspect was also on parole and had another felony warrant for armed robbery. If not for the use of a Police K-9, we would have never found this suspect. Kyra and I personally want to say Thank You to each and every person who donates to the Long Beach K-9 Officers Association. Without your kind donations, the Long Beach Police Department would not have a K-9 program. On Friday June 14th, Detective Carter and Officer Ortiz assisted Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department on a search warrant in the City of Long Beach. Our mission was to search the residence for narcotics and a gun that was used in a shooting. Officer Ortiz deployed his K -9 partner Trex, who is cross trained to detect the odors of gun powder, into three residences. After double checking the areas where Officer Ortiz deployed his K-9 partner, we were unable to locate any guns. Detective Carter then deployed his K-9 partner Thor, who is cross trained to detect the odors of narcotics, in the same three residences. K-9 Thor alerted underneath a chess game table that was located in the back family room. Officer Ortiz searched the chess table and recovered a hidden brown box. When Ortiz opened the box he found approximately 6 to 7 grams of marijuana and a pipe.

7 SUMMER 2013 Page 7 Crime Crusher You Can t Hide By Officer Vic Ortiz and K-9 Trex On June 7 th at approximately 11:30 PM, my partner, K-9 Trex, and I, Unit K-6, were requested to assist East Division units who were setting up a perimeter for burglars who ran into the area of Temple and 11 th Street. When we arrived I spoke to the primary Officer and he told me that he was dispatched to a suspicious person call and noticed that the residence, which was on the corner, was in the process of being fumigated and had the tent over it. The Officer also told me that the area was hit hard within the past few months with suspects burglarizing residences that were being fumigated. As the Officer was approaching the residence he heard a window shatter and saw the tent moving where he heard the window break. Several seconds later a male subject attempted to jump a fence in front of the Officer but went back into the yard. The Officer then saw three male subjects run out from the yard and jump fences just south of him. The Officer requested assistance and a perimeter was established, as well as the Long Beach Police Helicopter (Fox) arriving on scene to assist. I went to the residence just south of the tented residence and asked the homeowner if I could search his yard for the missing burglars. The resident was very scared he was alone with his infant child and asked us to please make sure there was no one hiding in his yard. I gave several K-9 announcements warning the suspects that a Police dog was going to be used to find him and surrender to the nearest Officer and he would not be harmed. There was no response from the suspects so I began my search. K-9 Trex cleared the west portion of the yard then went towards the south fence. I could immediately notice a change in behavior from Trex and could identify that he had human odor. Trex then quickly pinpointed the odor from a grate that lead underneath the residence and he began to bark. I advised my search team that the suspect was underneath the residence. I yelled through the grate and advised the suspect that we knew where he was and to surrender himself and he would not be harmed. There was no response from the suspect but I could hear pipes banging. The Sergeant who was on scene saw the crawl space opening move and two hands move the grate out. The Sergeant ordered the suspect to come out but he went back inside instead. I ran to that location and gave several more announcements with no response. I advised the Sergeant that the safest tool we had available to capture the suspect was to deploy my partner. The Sergeant agreed and Trex went underneath the residence. A couple of seconds later I could hear Okay I give up, get your dog. I gave Trex the release command, which he did immediately and returned to me. The suspect then crawled out and he and his friend that patrol Officers caught earlier were booked for burglary and resisting arrest. Check us out on Facebook and visit our web site for more information regarding our activities. See our souvenir items with LBK9OA logos available for sale. You can also donate via our web site through PayPal using your credit card.

8 SUMMER 2013 Page 8 Scan with your smart phone to visit us on the web! Name: MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION/RENEWAL FORM Address: City: State: Zip: Ph:( ) - Date: Individual $35.00/yr Corporate $100.00/yr Please accept my application for membership in the Long Beach K-9 Officers Association. Appropriate payment for membership has been enclosed. This is a RENEWAL application, please expedite. Appropriate payment enclosed. This is a DONATION, Please put to good use for the K-9 Program! Donation amount: $ Method of payment: (circle one) Check Enclosed MasterCard Visa Card Credit Card Account # / / / Card Expiration Date / Signature: (For credit card only) Mail Application to: Long Beach K-9 Officers Association P.O. Box Long Beach, CA

9 Long Beach K-9 Officers Association Merchandise KID S T-SHIRT $8.00 ea White or Light Blue Sizes 3T, X-Small, Small, Medium Adult T-Shirt Colors: Black, Red or Gray Sizes Medium, Large, X-Large $17.00 ea XX-Large $20.00 ea Shirts w/ pocket - Sizes: Large, X-Large $18.00 ea Glow in the Dark (No Mediums) XX-Large $21.00 ea KEY CHAIN $1.00 ea COMMUTER MUG $7.00 ea Mug is blue w/gold lettering. Plastic, insulated. HATS $12.00 ea Adjustable One size fits most Shepherd Standard Ball cap - White/Royal, Black, Khaki/Navy Summer Mesh Cap - Black, Charcoal/Black, Khaki/Navy Bloodhound Standard Ball cap Black only Shepherd Bloodhound LICENSE PLATE FRAME $3.00 ea or 2 for $5.00 NEW CHALLENGE COINS $10.00 All proceeds go to support the Long Beach K-9 Officers Association, a non-profit group. To provide funds to replace dogs killed in the line of duty or retired due to illness or advanced age. To provide continued medical care for retired dogs. (Federal Tax ID # )

10 LB K9 Officers Association P.O. Box Long Beach, CA NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID LONG BEACH, CA PERMIT 423 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED B_lmont Shor_ C[r Show S_pt_m\_r 8, 2013 hosted By Com_ s us [t our \ooth 2n^ Str t [n^