THE GREAT K-9 VACATION OF 2016
St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office K9 Officers Participate in ‘Prestigious’ Airport Explosive Detection Training in Canada – even though Border Patrol offers K-9 training in Virginia
UPDATE
WHITE ELEPHANT REPORT:
ABC 7 Investigative reporter Chris Papst followed up on this story on June 7, 2016, which was originally published on THE CHESAPEAKE TODAY on May 25, 2016. Papst interviewed former St. Mary’s Commissioner Larry Jarboe, who served four terms between 1994 and 2014. Jarboe told ABC 7 that the Sheriff should not have sent K-9 handlers to train for explosives at airports in Montreal, Canada when closer training was available at a lower cost and closer to Leonardtown.
ABC 7 SPECIAL REPORT – BENEFIT OR BOONDOGGLE?
While Commissioner Jarboe was being interviewed, St. Mary’s Commissioner John O’Conner, who succeeded Jarboe representing the northern end of St. Mary’s County, arrived to take a flight lesson. Perhaps Commissioner O’Conner realized that the only way he would ever catch a flight at St. Mary’s Airport was to fly the plane himself.
O’Conner told the reporter that he was a retired police officer and former K-9 handler and that expansion plans underway to provide a longer airport might eventually provide an opportunity for scheduled flights to be available. That promise, hope, plan, and a concocted idea have been batted around St. Mary’s County political circles for the last forty years.
If and when any flights finally land at the $3 million terminal which has sat empty for twenty years, the K-9 dogs trained last month in Canada will likely be either dead or retired.
LEONARDTOWN, MD. – St. Mary’s Sheriff Tim Cameron will go to any length to provide protection for the citizens of St. Mary’s County, even if the county doesn’t have any passenger flights. If ever, any flights start up at the county airport, which has never seen a scheduled flight in twenty years, Sheriff Cameron has his plane and passenger sniffing dogs at the ready.
Even though St. Mary’s doesn’t have an operating airport:
“With their canine explosive-detection partners, “Filly” and “Jasmine”, they practiced scanning for suspected explosive devices in the airport terminals, passenger airlines, passenger baggage systems, and surrounding grounds of the Montreal International Airport”.
St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Canine (K9) Officers Cpl. Todd Fleenor and Cpl. Shawn Cathcart traveled to Montreal, Canada, during the week of May 15-19, 2016, to participate in canine officer training exercises.
With their canine explosive-detection partners, “Filly” and “Jasmine”, they practiced scanning for suspected explosive devices in the airport terminals, passenger airlines, passenger baggage systems, and surrounding grounds of the Montreal International Airport.
The canine teams also responded to a ‘live’ call for service and assisted in the investigation of suspicious packages in and around the airport terminal.
In addition, during Basic Patrol Canine Training, International Police Work Dog Association (I.P.W.D.A.) Master Canine Trainer Corporal Fleenor conducted evaluations of several other canine teams. Patrol Canine duties consist of building searches, tracking, area searches, evidence/article searches, aggression control, and obedience to commands. During the assessments, Cathcart assisted as a decoy for the patrol canines.
Deputy taken along on trip to Canada to act as a “decoy”
“The timing of this training could not have been more fitting,” said Captain Steven Hall, Commander, Special Operations Division. “Based on recent world events, the experience our K9 officers obtained while training in an airport environment will prove to be invaluable. I am proud of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit, their dedication to duty, and the reputation of excellence they have earned both nationally and internationally.”
Along with Sheriff Tim Cameron and Captain Steven Hall, Fleenor extended his thanks and gratitude to the members of the Montreal Canadian Airport Canine Unit for their hospitality, especially Head Trainer Yanick Choquette. “This was the experience of a lifetime for Corporal Cathcart and me,” Fleenor stated. “The knowledge and expertise we gained in Canada will be applied daily while performing our K9 duties.” He added, “Thank you to the Montreal Canada Canine Unit for the invitation to participate in this valuable training and for our continued partnership. Also, thank you to Sheriff Tim Cameron for your continued support of the K9 Unit.”
The terminal was built with Federal funds obtained by Congressman Steny Hoyer and former Delegate John Bohanan and built by the Board of Commissioners who failed to first find a charter or scheduled airline that wished to provide flights from St. Mary’s Airport, which currently has a runway that it is too short for mid-size regional airlines. The taxpayers of St. Mary’s County have had to foot the bill to maintain the building as it either sat empty or was given Good Old Boy rent deals to groups such as the Chamber of Commerce.
The press release issued by Captain Hall never mentioned the good old taxpayers who pay for everything including this great vacation for the K-9 handlers of the St. Mary’s Sheriff’s Department.
The terminal was built with Federal funds obtained by Congressman Steny Hoyer and former Delegate John Bohanan and built by the Board of Commissioners who failed to first find a charter or scheduled airline that wished to provide flights from St. Mary’s Airport, which currently has a runway that it is too short for mid-size regional airlines. The taxpayers of St. Mary’s County have had to foot the bill to maintain the building as it either sat empty or was given Good Old Boy rent deals to groups such as the Chamber of Commerce.
Sheriff Cameron Could Have Utilized K-9 Training at Border Patrol Center in Virginia
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Border Patrol offers K-9 training as close as Front Royal, Virginia, making the two and one-half hour trip each way, a lot closer than going to Montreal on the taxpayer’s dime.
On October 1, 2009, the U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) Canine Training Program and the Office of Field Operations (OFO) Canine Training Program were merged to create the Customs and Border Protection Canine Training Program. An integrated core curriculum was adopted combining the best practices of the Legacy OFO and OBP training programs. Training has been appropriately customized to ensure that the unique requirements of OFO/OBP are met.
CBP Canine Program is headquartered in El Paso, Texas and oversees two training delivery sites, Canine Center El Paso (CCEP) in El Paso, Texas and Canine Center Front Royal (CCFR) in Front Royal, Virginia.
The CBP Canine Program is critical to the mission of the Department of Homeland Security: “To Protect the Homeland.” The primary goal of the CBP Canine Program is terrorist detection and apprehension. The working CBP canine team has become the best tool available to detect and apprehend persons attempting entry to organize, incite, and carry out acts of terrorism. The Canine Program’s secondary goal is the detection and seizure of controlled substances and other contraband, often used to finance terrorist and/or criminal drug trafficking organizations. Additionally, CBP canine teams assist local law enforcement agencies when requested. Under the direction of the Office of Training and Development (OTD), the CBP Canine Program offers certified training based upon numerous federal and internationally recognized standards. The CBP Canine Program provides formal training for various local, state, and federal agencies. As a resource center, the CBP Canine Program serves as a liaison to the field, providing guidance for training issues, legal requirements, and certification standards.
CBP maintains a breeding program to supplement the number of suitable dogs entering detection training for the CBP mission. Working and sporting breed dogs are whelped and cared for in a variety of approved housing facilities. The puppies’ final evaluation takes place between 7 and 14 months of age when they enter into one of the formal detection canine courses.
“The timing of this training could not have been more fitting,” said Captain Steven Hall, Commander, Special Operations Division. “Based on recent world events, the experience our K9 officers obtained while training in an airport environment will prove to be invaluable
