In September, several law enforcement officers and their K9 partners spent a day at the Kent State City Center for an intensive training session.
The day was organized by Officer Anne Spahr of the Kent State University Police Department, who explained that the units train regularly for a minimum of 16 hours each month.
Participating in this training session were Spahr and her K9 partner, Coco, of the Kent State explosive detection K9 team; Officer Miguel Witt and K9 Dexter, also of the Kent State explosive detection team; Officer Ed Stoltz and K9 Rex of the Cleveland State Police Department explosive detection team; Officer Pam Helmick and K9 Halo of the University of Akron Police Department’s explosive detection team; and Agent Andrew Koch of the Medway Drug Enforcement Agency’s narcotics detection team.
Spahr explained that the training involves placing, or hiding, training aids (narcotics and/or explosives) throughout the building and allowing the dogs to conduct a search just as they do when responding to bomb threats, protective sweeps or searches.
Cutline A: Law enforcement officers and their K9 partners during a training session at the City Center.
Cutline B: Kent State Officer Anne Spahr and Coco conduct a classroom search.
Cutline C: An officer and his K9 partner prepare to search.