Police dogs have graduation in the USA and must work in World Cup security
The US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) held, this Friday (26), a graduation ceremony for a new class of police dogs specialized in detecting explosives; most of them will be sent to cities that will host the World Cup.
The ceremony took place at the National Canine Academy in Front Royal, Virginia. Among the graduates were Special Agent George Jusino of the Atlanta Regional Division and his dog, Harry.
"Today was a graduation for both the dog and me," said Jusino. "We went through a three-month process, seven days a week, 24 hours active... We trained a lot."
During a demonstration, Harry sniffed backpacks and training cylinders, sitting up to signal detection of explosive odors.
The training program begins well before the handlers arrive, with the dogs undergoing weeks of "imprinting" (initial conditioning) to recognize explosive odors, according to ATF Special Agent in Charge Brice McCracken.
Once the pairs are formed, handlers and dogs train together daily for the remainder of the 12-week course. Dogs of the Labrador breed are generally used, coming from service animal organizations, conditioned to work in exchange for food rewards.
Jusino said he and Harry will be based in the Savannah regional office, supporting operations in Atlanta, Georgia.
"That dog could have done well with anyone else. He didn't need me, but I needed him," he said. Other trained dogs will be sent to major events across the United States, including several World Cup host cities, where they will help scan for explosives and assist security teams.
McCracken stressed that the canine units are just one part of a broader security system.
"These dogs are part of a larger security apparatus," he said, noting that any alert triggers a response from technicians and bomb experts. "It's important to recognize that this is just one piece of a larger security apparatus, aimed at protecting these events that we often don't even think about."
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Source: CNN