WATCH: Behind the Scenes Look at the Palm Bay Police Department’s K9 Unit with Officer Sean Dutill
By Space Coast Daily // September 25, 2020
Palm Bay Police Canine Unit among the best, most highly trained in Florida
ABOVE VIDEO: Take a behind the scenes look at the Palm Bay Police Department’s K9 Unit.
BREVARD COUNTY • PALM BAY, FLORIDA – Take a behind the scenes look at the Palm Bay Police Department’s K9 Unit. Officer Sean Dutill discusses K9 training and what it’s like to have a four-legged partner.
The Palm Bay Police Department’s Canine Unit is among the best and most highly trained in the State of Florida.
The K-9 Teams assigned to the Uniform Services Division are cross-trained for Patrol (handler protection, building search, area search, tracking, and evidence search). All teams are certified through FDLE as Patrol dogs, which is a minimum standard.
Teams also have advanced certifications through North American Police Work Dog for drug detection and Patrol when training funds are available.
The dogs and their handlers must train hundreds of hours to become re-certified to work in the public arena.
North American Police Work Dog Association (NAPWDA) Utility Dog consists of Obedience, Apprehension, Area Search, Building Search, Evidence Search, and Tracking.
NAPWDA Drug dogs are tested on marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and Methamphetamine odors.
The test consists of five vehicles with interior and exterior hides on four and one blanks; four hides in an open area; and four hides in five rooms with one room blank.