Today I got my reserve commission with a police department here in LA. I will refrain from announcing which department unfortunately not everyone is your friend in the dog world and it wouldn't be cool for somebody who doesn't know me to start sending annonymous emails to the chief, like I'm sure that troll Cath would love to do if she knew. I was made head K9 trainer, as the other two K9 guys have only been on the streets with their dogs for 2months and prior to that only had the 3week cert course as the main source of their knowledge which didn't cover traffic stops, they never saw muzzle work (Until yesterday with me)Yeah I'll also refrain from mentioning the cert academy they went through. Though this is very much a collective effort, I can show them about dogs, but they can show me about being a LEO. The supervisor who is over K9 did 11years as K9 is not a current handler, but is VERY understanding of K9. When their last dogs died many years ago, they let the program die. This department is extremely K9 friendly, and wants this program to thrive. The chief for the department personally set out and revived the K9 dept. when he was elected chief of police 1yr ago.

I'll be working OJT with K9 starting in 3 weeks until later in the year when I start working a dog, but of course I have to finish my field training time. I'll be moving full time by the end of the year.

We did some pretty good training today. We've got a cool place to train several actually, PERFECT for LE seminars. A couple of VERY good dogs on the department. One got a live bite on me in training yesterday Hey it happens to the best of us. I was getting him to transfer from my legs to top, but stuck my hand in his mouth as he was coming up, yes I felt like an idiot, LOL. It would have been worse had I not been quick enough. I'll post some pics of me and the guys in a few weeks.
~CHRIS DUHON

Congrats!!! How exciting for you!! The boyfriend just picked up his 13th trainee last week. Some of the stories he tells of the evil things that they do to them... I keep telling him he's mean. Keep your head up and have fun. It is such a worthy occupation.

Don't forget those teeeh are sharp!!

Wow! That is great! Congratulations....

Congratulations!

So cool! Congrats.I'm glad you accidentally stuck one hand in his mouth and not 2, we've seen a helper once got his hand bit and then decided to put his other hand out to rescue the other and got BOTH hands bit
Good luck ,it sounds like you are getting that team organized and educated..

Congrats Chris!!!!

Chris, Good for you. You have no idea how much fun you are in for. Oh, and the hours of boredom broken up by minutes of terror. Being as you are military I'm sure the transaction will be smooth.

Howard

Howard, I can see already. Just from the training, the best thing is they let me set up whatever training I deem necessary for the dog or the handler. They had never trained roadside stops yet, didn't do it in the k9 handler course either, which is odd, because K9 works alot of interdiction as per handler friends.
We practiced Felony stops along a lighly traveled road yesterday. Them executing procedure, while I drove an unmarked in a bitesuit, LOL. The other officer was attempting to cuff me when we scuffled and the covering K9 team released. We minimized danger to the dog and public, but the dog still got to work with traffic passing by and the whole nine. We did passive suspect apprehensions under a house, vehicle extractions, Muzzle work with not shirt on then ended with a suit strike with the loose muzzle for slip and bite to end that. We practiced a high speed chase that led off road, and when I the suspect got out and bailed there was a heard of cows running and surrounding the cars, they were attracted to the sirens I guess, but the dog had to run straight through a heard of cows to get to me, he never looked elsewhere except me, I'm quite sure his exposure to a Herd of cows has been limited if any at all, His name is Vito and he's a great dog, serious and tenacious in work, with a calm temperment for a Mal. Very attached to his handler in a short period of time. We are going up to the state Police for interdiction training in 2weeks We've got some major drug trafficing routes run right in the middle of our jurisdiction.

We're doing training next month to intergrate K9 into our SWAT. The handlers and I hit it off extremely well, they didn't feel intimidated by me, and wasn't the least bitter about a new guy having say over the training of their dogs. I'm helping to wright certain policies also, and it's being recieved well. They had K9 running primary calls and zoned so the dogs were hardly being used, I mean K9 for a standard neighbor arguing over loud music call! After talking to the chief yesterday that has changed, and he released the zone and they can start running interdiction and assisting other officers as requested. One of the handlers who will be my partner for a few months is a good guy we clicked right away, so thats good. He also alotted 1hr a day on shift for training where no one of any rank can touch K9 except him. The chief and supervisors are being very receptive to any reasonable requests involving K9 and therefore, if you guys have some points and pointers that is a must have, please shoot me a PM. We're all going to be learning something during all of this, but we all want the program to thrive and be productive and successful.

Thanks guys for the congrats, I'm definately looking forward to this.

Good deal Chris! Hope you and your guys take a big "bite" out of crime!!

Congratulations!

Debbie

Big congratulations on your commission, Chris. Was wondering where you've been. Sounds like you'll have the freedom to work as you want, give important input, and have fun doing it.