DAVID HENCH Staff Writer
Portland Press Herald (Maine)
12-26-2006
New canine recruit getting high praise ; Tony, a German shepherd, is expected to finish training in April and bolster Portland's depleted canine corps.
Byline: DAVID HENCH Staff Writer
Edition: HOLIDAY
Section: Local & State
Memo: LEARN MORE ONLINE: Police Dog Associations: http:// www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/CCAB/police.html How police dogs work: http:/ /tinyurl.com/ymma94 Dog training resources: http:// www.geocities.com/jetflair/police.html
The rebuilding of the Portland police canine corps is under way in the sleek black form of Tony, a German shepherd.
The dog arrived this month from Germany and has begun advanced training with its owner and handler, Chris Coyne. Tony should be ready to be certified and on the job by April, he said.
The dog's addition to the force comes none too soon.
Police dogs have become an integral part of law enforcement, from tracking suspects to finding drugs to searching for bombs. But Portland's plan to have one dog available each shift has fallen on hard times. Beano died last summer from an unusual intestinal ailment. Kralle is being retired because of health problems. And Carla, the department's bomb dog, is right behind him. The handler for Carr got promoted to sergeant so his dog is being retired as well.
Justice is on the job, but the new bomb dog, Jake, and a new patrol dog, Nik, are still too young and it's uncertain when and if they'll make it as a police canine.
Tony, however, has the skills, says Coyne.
The dog is calmer than Beano, who was a bit high-strung, and yet is focused and eager to work, Coyne said. He will seek out objects and obey commands in return for a nugget of freeze-dried beef liver or even just the playful toss of a tennis ball.
The dog comes from a specialty breeder in Germany at a cost of $6,000. It's expensive, but police say it's worth it to get a healthy and well-bred dog that already comes partially trained.
While Portland's young police dogs mature and train, the department will borrow dogs from other departments. But having a Portland dog working at any given shift makes it much easier and potentially more effective if officers need to search a building or track a suspect.
Tony and Coyne have been working to become familiar with each other. Coyne says building a trust relationship is one reason police dogs live at home with their handler's family. Soon, Tony's training will start in earnest.
'We're going to start with narcotics first because it's a big problem in Portland,' Coyne said as he introduced the dog to a group of benefactors in the parking lot of DiMillo's restaurant and marina. The family of Tony DiMillo helped support the department's canine program in his memory, hence the newest police dog's name.
Although dogs are a valuable tool for police departments, they are sometimes seen as a luxury and so have not always been included in the department's budget. Instead, area residents and businesses have stepped forward to help underwrite the cost.
Allen Cornwall said that after reading an article about the department's depleted canine corps, he suggested his fellow employees at Systems Engineering raise money to help. One reason was because he was able to watch a Scarborough canine when his home was broken into last year.
The dog was able to track the burglars to where they had climbed into a waiting car, he said.
'It's just incredible to watch them work,' he said.
Dave Morgan, of Brooklawn, had a similar experience. A police dog was a valuable ally for investigators tracking a drug dealer through the cemetery one night. He also sees more and more police dogs at work in airports and elsewhere.
'They give you this added sense of security,' he said.
Kristen Smith, executive director of the Planet Dog Foundation, said she is not surprised by the generosity toward the department's canine program. People like dogs and like to see them helping the community.
'They're capable, loyal ... I think there's a sense that a dog with a policeman is the greatest partnership you can find,' she said.
Staff Writer David Hench can be contacted at 791-6327 or at:
dhench@pressherald.com
Illustrations/Photos:
Caption: Staff photo by Jack Milton Portland police officer Chris
Coyne shows off Tony, the new addition to the department's canine
corps, last week. The 18-month-old German shepherd arrived from
Germany earlier this month.
Copyright 2006 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.
Portland Press Herald (Maine)
12-26-2006
New canine recruit getting high praise ; Tony, a German shepherd, is expected to finish training in April and bolster Portland's depleted canine corps.
Byline: DAVID HENCH Staff Writer
Edition: HOLIDAY
Section: Local & State
Memo: LEARN MORE ONLINE: Police Dog Associations: http:// www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/CCAB/police.html How police dogs work: http:/ /tinyurl.com/ymma94 Dog training resources: http:// www.geocities.com/jetflair/police.html
The rebuilding of the Portland police canine corps is under way in the sleek black form of Tony, a German shepherd.
The dog arrived this month from Germany and has begun advanced training with its owner and handler, Chris Coyne. Tony should be ready to be certified and on the job by April, he said.
The dog's addition to the force comes none too soon.
Police dogs have become an integral part of law enforcement, from tracking suspects to finding drugs to searching for bombs. But Portland's plan to have one dog available each shift has fallen on hard times. Beano died last summer from an unusual intestinal ailment. Kralle is being retired because of health problems. And Carla, the department's bomb dog, is right behind him. The handler for Carr got promoted to sergeant so his dog is being retired as well.
Justice is on the job, but the new bomb dog, Jake, and a new patrol dog, Nik, are still too young and it's uncertain when and if they'll make it as a police canine.
Tony, however, has the skills, says Coyne.
The dog is calmer than Beano, who was a bit high-strung, and yet is focused and eager to work, Coyne said. He will seek out objects and obey commands in return for a nugget of freeze-dried beef liver or even just the playful toss of a tennis ball.
The dog comes from a specialty breeder in Germany at a cost of $6,000. It's expensive, but police say it's worth it to get a healthy and well-bred dog that already comes partially trained.
While Portland's young police dogs mature and train, the department will borrow dogs from other departments. But having a Portland dog working at any given shift makes it much easier and potentially more effective if officers need to search a building or track a suspect.
Tony and Coyne have been working to become familiar with each other. Coyne says building a trust relationship is one reason police dogs live at home with their handler's family. Soon, Tony's training will start in earnest.
'We're going to start with narcotics first because it's a big problem in Portland,' Coyne said as he introduced the dog to a group of benefactors in the parking lot of DiMillo's restaurant and marina. The family of Tony DiMillo helped support the department's canine program in his memory, hence the newest police dog's name.
Although dogs are a valuable tool for police departments, they are sometimes seen as a luxury and so have not always been included in the department's budget. Instead, area residents and businesses have stepped forward to help underwrite the cost.
Allen Cornwall said that after reading an article about the department's depleted canine corps, he suggested his fellow employees at Systems Engineering raise money to help. One reason was because he was able to watch a Scarborough canine when his home was broken into last year.
The dog was able to track the burglars to where they had climbed into a waiting car, he said.
'It's just incredible to watch them work,' he said.
Dave Morgan, of Brooklawn, had a similar experience. A police dog was a valuable ally for investigators tracking a drug dealer through the cemetery one night. He also sees more and more police dogs at work in airports and elsewhere.
'They give you this added sense of security,' he said.
Kristen Smith, executive director of the Planet Dog Foundation, said she is not surprised by the generosity toward the department's canine program. People like dogs and like to see them helping the community.
'They're capable, loyal ... I think there's a sense that a dog with a policeman is the greatest partnership you can find,' she said.
Staff Writer David Hench can be contacted at 791-6327 or at:
dhench@pressherald.com
Illustrations/Photos:
Caption: Staff photo by Jack Milton Portland police officer Chris
Coyne shows off Tony, the new addition to the department's canine
corps, last week. The 18-month-old German shepherd arrived from
Germany earlier this month.
Copyright 2006 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.
