Hello Everyone! I have run into a problem and I need EVERYONES advice and direction!
I am a Fugitive Recovery Agent K9/Senior Investigator with Apontes Fugitive Recovery Agency in Up State New York. I have been with this agency for 6 years(Retired from the Army Spec Ops, and MP's) and used my GSD Ben Trained in Germany by the Wurzburg Politzi, and myself for fugitive apprehension, tracking, building searches, and handeler protection. He has made this line of work much safer and successful. My partner recently pased away at 15yrs old, of age. A TRUE FRIEND! Now the problem! I recently purchased a new young 8 month old male Argo GSD FRG/DDR working lines. I have been doing the training with the local Police, Sheriffs, and the State Police. He's doing GREAT! I can do all the required training for Police Service K9 Certifications, and maintance training, BUT! I can not get certified because in New York you must be a police officer no way around it! I don't know of any orginizations unless you are a police officer willing to certify a K9 Team for this line of work, that would be recognized Nation wide? which we work. In the last 3 months my 2 legged partner and I have apprehended 9 Felony Fugitives from Drug charges to counterfiters, and some other very violent fugitives, for Bondsman, the FBI, and local Police Departments. A K9 team would have made some of these apprehensions safer. I have spoken to other agents from other states who use K9's with their agencies and they all do the same thing I do local training. I have spoken to the president of NABEA (National Association of Bail Enforcement Agents)Church Falls, Va. Mel Barth he didn't have much input. I feel that a standard certification program needs to be put into place a requirement for all K9 teams in my field of work. I would like to get the advice from everyone on how to attend a certified program, or start a program for this ever growing field of work!
I Thank You all for your time and help!