SACRAMENTO,
Calif. – The California Highway Patrol (CHP) today announced the graduation and
deployment of nine new canine teams. After
months of intensive training, the CHP certified its newest members during a
ceremony at the CHP Academy’s Canine Training Facility.
“These nine
teams are joining an already astonishing unit that serves as a vital part of the
Department in protecting the public,” said CHP Commissioner Amanda Ray. “The canines have received hundreds of hours of
intense training and are ready to serve and support the mission of the CHP.”
The graduates
consist of eight Patrol and Narcotics Detection Canine teams and one Patrol and
Explosives Detection Canine team, all of which meet the guidelines set by the
Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training. The newest team members include two Belgian
Malinois, two Dutch Shepherds, and five German Shepherds. The CHP now has a total of 53 canine teams
deployed throughout the state.
Each canine’s
partner, or handler, is an experienced CHP officer with anywhere from three to
15 years of experience. The officers represent
the CHP’s eight geographic regions of Northern, Valley, Golden Gate, Central,
Southern, Border, Coastal, and Inland Division.
Once deployed, the handlers will spend a minimum of eight hours every
week training with their canines to ensure the highest level of peak performance
by creating scenarios similar to what is experienced out in the field.
The
CHP uses its canines to perform a variety of tasks, including detecting human
scent, contraband, and explosives. A
canine team can improve the safety and effectiveness of officers as well as save
time and money. The CHP canines are also
used to assist allied agencies in apprehending criminals, detecting explosives
or drugs, and in locating at-risk missing persons.
The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety,
Service, and Security.
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