Home » Home » Cocoa Police K-9 Maverick Assists in Locating Methamphetamine, Fentanyl During Traffic Stop

Cocoa Police K-9 Maverick Assists in Locating Methamphetamine, Fentanyl During Traffic Stop

By  //  August 22, 2024

Law enforcement officers continue to seize millions of counterfeit prescription pills containing lethal fentanyl

Cocoa Police K-9 Maverick and his human, K9 Officer Dan Rhoades, were called to assist with a traffic stop on a vehicle where the driver was suspected of illegal drug use. (CPD image)

BREVARD COUNTY • COCOA, FLORIDA – Cocoa Police K-9 Maverick and his human, K9 Officer Dan Rhoades, were recently called to assist with a traffic stop on a vehicle where the driver was suspected of illegal drug use.

According to officials, Maverick quickly alerted on the driver’s side of the vehicle. A subsequent search revealed drugs and paraphernalia inside the car, and the driver was arrested for felony possession of methamphetamine, felony possession of fentanyl, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

“What the driver may not be aware of is K-9 Maverick and the patrol officers on duty with Bravo squad that night may well have saved her life,” said a Cocoa police spokesperson.

The training required for a patrol K-9 team, 480-hours, is the most amount of training required out of all the disciplines in police patrol work.

It involves obedience control, apprehension work, and search work. Additional training includes detection work. The dogs are trained with a primary focus on positive reinforcement using a reward-based system. The dog is motivated to work for praise from the handler which is built through extensive bonding exercises.

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It is the relationship between the dog and the handler that determines the success of the police K9 team. The K9 must love, trust and respect the handler in order to work as a team.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fentanyl killed more than 73,000 Americans last year, nearly 8,000 in Florida alone.

“We use this example as part of National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day,” said a Cocoa police spokesperson.

Law enforcement officers nationwide continue to seize millions of counterfeit prescription pills containing lethal fentanyl.

It is often mixed with other drugs like meth and cocaine. Know that one pill can kill! If you or a family member is struggling with addiction, there are resources to help.

For substance abuse treatment and mental health referrals, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

Cocoa Police K-9 Maverick and his human, K9 Officer Rhoades, were called to assist with a traffic stop on a vehicle where the driver was suspected of illegal drug use. (CPD image)
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