The Corpus Christi Police Department today is proud to announce the launch of the Patrol K-9 Unit.  This unit, under the supervision of Uniform Patrol Division Commander Santiago Escalante, provides the department with one more tool to achieve its commitment to reduce crime, the fear of crime and enhance public safety.  Although the police department has utilized drug detecting canines in the Narcotics Unit since the mid-1990s, the canines of the Patrol K-9 Unit will be the first ever patrol service dogs assigned to the Uniform Patrol Division.  In addition to their keen ability to detect narcotics, these highly trained “dual purpose” canines are able to conduct building searches, track fleeing suspects, search for missing persons and lost children, and apprehend violent offenders.

BACKGROUND:

In 2010, former Chief of Police Troy Riggs began attending daily “roll calls” to meet the men and women of the Uniform Division and to present his vision for the police department.  During these meetings, Chief Riggs took the opportunity to listen to the officers’ suggestions on how to better serve the community during a time of shrinking budgets and depleted staffing.  One common theme voiced by the rank and file was the dangers they encountered while searching for burglary suspects within darkened buildings or conducting open field searches for fleeing offenders.  Officers also mentioned the need for more drug detecting canines to improve their ability to combat the ever-present scourge of street level drug traffickers.  Supervisors cited the difficulty of conducting searches for lost children, missing persons, or fleeing suspects without the services of a well-trained tracking canine.

In the fall of 2010, Chief Riggs commissioned the Patrol Canine Feasibility Team to study the pros and cons of forming a K-9 Unit within the Uniform Patrol Division.  The committee consisted of City Risk Manager Donna James-Spruce, Terry Utrech, Director of the Union Pacific Railroad K-9 program, CCPD Narcotics K-9 Officers Allen Dial and Shawn Orsak, CCPD Training Officer Rodney Luzania, and Gang Unit Captain Todd Green.  The team examined crime data, reviewed lost time and injury claims, studied policies from numerous Law Enforcement Agencies and Working Dog Organizations, and consulted with experts in the working dog field, before presenting its findings to Chief Riggs and his Command Staff. The Committee recommended that the Police Department implement a Patrol K-9 program, but strongly emphasized the need for direct supervision, extensive and continuous training, and clearly defined policies regulating the deployment of the Patrol K-9s.  In January of 2011, Chief Riggs signed policy authorizing the creation of the Patrol K-9 program.

The first step in the program was the selection of the Patrol K-9 Supervisors. The K-9 policy signed by Chief Riggs required a serious commitment to the program from both the handlers and supervisors; the Patrol K-9 supervisors would be required to attend the same training as the handlers and agree to work the same evening patrol shift as the handlers for a period of at least two years.  In May of 2011, Lt. Anthony Sanders and Lt. Donnie Moore were selected as CCPD’s first Patrol K-9 Unit Supervisors.

The selection of the K-9 handlers followed.  City Risk Manager Donna James-Spruce, Commander Escalante, and Lieutenants Moore and Sanders oversaw the selection process as numerous officers vied for the right to become CCPD’s first Patrol K-9 handlers.  Applicants for the positions were expected to make a five-year commitment to the program, demonstrate excellent physical fitness, strong self-initiative, sound judgment and decision-making, and even temperament. Following a very rigorous and competitive selection process, Sr. Officer Lee Preiss and Sr. Officer Jason Lavastida were chosen as the Patrol K-9 Unit handlers.

In late August, the Lieutenants and handlers visited two canine vendors in the San Antonio area, and followed that with a visit to the Dallas Police Department K-9 Unit, where they were allowed to participate during training.  The information and insight gained while reviewing the Dallas program proved invaluable during the canine vendor selection process and implementation of our own Patrol K-9 program. The department eventually selected the well-regarded Hill Country Dog Center in Pipe Creek, Texas as the vendor to provide the canines and training for the program.

In late September the Lieutenants and handlers began the four-week K-9 handler training program at the Hill Country Dog Center.  Sr. Officer Preiss was introduced to his K-9 partner “Kimbo”, a German shepherd, while Sr. Officer Lavasitda was assigned K-9 “LaRoy”, a Belgian Malinois.  Lieutenants Sanders and Moore were also provided with canines during the four-week course, so that they could participate in the same training as the handlers.  Topics covered during the intense month-long course included caring and grooming for the animals, obedience training, building searches, scouting, tracking, narcotics detection, and officer protection. The four officers completed their training on October 21st and returned home.

Since then, the handlers and their K-9s have continued the training process in preparation for full deployment.  During this time, the handlers and their K-9s have visited numerous patrol shifts in order to familiarize the dogs with their new surroundings, as well as to educate the officers as to the dogs’ abilities. In November, Senior Officer Preiss and his dog “Kimbo” attained additional certification from the National Narcotics Detector Dog Association. “LaRoy” is on track to attain his certification in the near future.

The K-9 Unit will begin full operations this Friday evening.  Hours of operation are Friday through Monday from approximately 5:00 PM to 3:00 AM, peak hours for criminal activity.  One K-9 Team will be assigned to the city’s Southside, while the other will patrol the West and North side.  Both teams will be available for “call-outs” when needed.

About the Supervisors:

Lt. Donald Moore is an eleven year veteran of the Corpus Christi Police Department.  He has served in the Uniform Patrol Division, Training Division and as a member of the SWAT Team. He was promoted to Lieutenant in January of 2011.

Lt. Anthony Sanders is a ten-year veteran of the Police Department and has served exclusively in the Uniform Patrol Division. Lt. Sanders served ten years in the United States Navy prior to joining the force. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 2008.

About the Handlers and their K-9 partners:

Sr. Officer Lee Preiss was a Nueces County Sheriff’s Deputy for seven years before joining the Corpus Christi Police Department in 2000.  He has served in the Uniform Division, Narcotics/Vice Division, Gang Unit and on the FBI Safe Streets Gang Task Force. Preiss served nine years in the United States Air Force as a K-9 handler prior to beginning his career in local law enforcement.  His partner, “Kimbo” is a three year-old German Shepherd that weighs in at 72 pounds with unending energy that Preiss describes as extremely social with both animals and people.

Sr. Officer Jason Lavastida is an eleven year veteran of the Corpus Christi Police Department who has served in the Uniform Patrol Division as a patrol officer and as a member of the SWAT Team for approximately five years.   Prior to his selection as a handler, Lavastida served in the Training Division as a physical fitness instructor.  His partner, “LaRoy” is a three year-old Belgian Malinois, who also weighs in at approximately 72 lbs.  “LaRoy” is extremely energetic, says Lavasitda, who enjoys taking him on 3 mile runs.

Both K-9s were born in Holland from extremely strong bloodlines and take their commands in Dutch.

Patrol K-9 facts

K-9 handlers keep their K-9 partners at their homes in kennels provided by the police department.

K-9 handlers and their K-9 partners are required to train at least four hours per week and an additional four-hour block each month.

K-9 handlers are compensated for the care, feeding and grooming of their K-9 partners.

K-9 handlers and supervisors must keep extensive and accurate training records.

K-9s and their handlers must maintain certifications in order to be deployed.

K-9s or K-9 handlers who cannot maintain certification will be removed from service.

K-9 Supervisors and K-9 handlers are provided with specially equipped Chevy Tahoe patrol vehicles.

The Canine Unit vehicles are fully marked and equipped with the following:

1. Automatic temperature control gauge, cooling system and emergency notification system with window opening mechanism.
2. Commercial Transport Insert System for Canine Units.
3. Front and rear emergency lights and siren

To see a video of the K-9 unit in action, click on the following link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diBB1XEQvR8&feature=g-upl&context=G2e4a367AUAAAAAAAAAA