Law enforcement agencies throughout the world have long recognized the value of properly trained police service dogs. These animals, when appropriately utilized, have time and time again proved themselves instrumental in achieving the objectives and missions of the law enforcement agency.  The police K-9, due to its strength, agility, courage, and amazing olfactory capabilities can be utilized to assist law enforcement in various tasks in a more thorough and efficient manner.

Because of these attributes, some police service dogs can be utilized to assist in searching for potentially violent criminals, aid in the apprehension of fleeing criminals who may place innocent community members or other police officers at risk of injury. The dogs also offer the department an effective public relations tool to disseminate information about the Police Department’s mission, functions, and crime fighting efforts. 

The Port Arthur Police Department's K-9 Detail has a strong record of success in finding lost, missing, and fugitive persons along with victims of drowning.  The Narcotics canines have located illegal drugs in some of the most difficult and unlikely hiding places.  Amounts vary from month to month, but the PAPD K-9 Detail is often responsible for locating and seizing many grams of methamphetamines and heroin, cocaine and marijuana.  In potentially dangerous situations, the police K-9 can often assume the risk by preventing exposure of a police officer to a violent confrontation.

The Port Arthur Police Department currently has 11 dogs in the K9 unit. Six of these dogs are dual purpose, four are for trailing and cadaver work, and one is a single purpose narcotic detection dog.

Single Purpose:

The single purpose narcotic detector dog " Millie " is able to detect the odors of several different narcotics. She is a Belgian Malinois and handled by Officer R. Kidwell. " Millie " and Officer Kidwell have been responsible for numerous arrests and seizures of narcotics.

ROCKIE

Dual Purpose :

The dual purpose dogs are fully trained and qualified as Police work dogs for patrol purposes and narcotic detection. The six dual purpose dogs are able to track missing persons or suspects, apprehend violent felons who pose serious threats to the public or Officers, and detect different types of narcotics. These six dogs where all trained in Europe and Mexico and were matched with their handlers in Little Rock Ark. at the Little Rock K-9 Academy for several weeks of intense training. These dual purpose dogs are being handled by Sgt. K. Boneau, Offc. R. Bridges, Offc. C. Cole, Offc. D. Klinkhammer, Offc. J.H. Fontenette, and Offc. P. Croak.

Trailing and Cadaver:

The trailing and cadaver dogs are being handled by Sgt. S. Perron, Det. M. Sterling, and Det. M. Holmes. These dogs are trained to search for people ( missing persons, lost children, lost elderly persons, and suspects involved in crimes ). 

Man Trailing is the act of following one specific scent, while disregarding all other scents that are in the area, and track that one scent. The blood hounds extraordinary ability to pick up the scent left behind is second to none. The nose of a Bloodhound is so good that evidence found by a Bloodhound will hold up in matters involving the United States Supreme Court.  

One relatively new area of specialization, that is very promising, involves the use of canines to detect the presence of human remains. These dogs can be trained to detect human remains long after death., despite burial or attempted concealment. Trained dogs are able to distinguish between human remains, animal remains, and a wide range of other odors that would normally be expected to distract them. Thus, their ability to distinguish between sources of similar biological odors enhances their application in the area of Human Remains Detection (HRD). These specially trained canines are used  to detect human remains on both land and in water.

KOA

Narcotics Detection:

The ability of the police K-9s to locate concealed narcotics contraband rests with two major qualities which are inherent in the police service dog. The first is the dog’s amazing olfactory (sense of smell) capability. When the remarkable sense is coupled with the dog’s strong play drive, the dogs are taught to associate the scent of specific narcotics with their "reward" or "toy." To earn this reward, the dogs are trained to search boxes, rooms, yards, automobiles, and any other locations where there is a likelihood someone may have concealed narcotics contraband. An effort is made to prevent the dog from coming into direct contact with any of these drugs as these drugs are as poisonous to dogs as they are to humans. Suspects sometimes use distraction scents to mask the odor of narcotics contraband in an attempt to foil the detection capabilities of the animals. However, for the most part, these efforts have failed as documented by the hundreds and hundreds of pounds of seized narcotics contraband which were destined for street-level sales.  

The Port Arthur Police Department Narcotics Canines have been trained and are certified to detect the presence of marijuana, methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine. 

 

Handler	Canine	Breed	Job Description
Sergeant Kris Boneau	Niko	German Shepherd	Dual Purpose
Sergeant Shawn Perron	Six	Blood Hound	Trailing
Detective Mark Holmes	Bo	Bloodhound	Trailing/ Cadaver
Detective Mark Holmes	Buster	Bloodhound	Trailing
Detective Mickey Sterling	Ranger	Bloodhound	Trailing/ Cadaver
Officer Rocky Bridges	Max	Belgian-Malinois	Dual Purpose
Officer Doug Klinkhammer	Rockie	German Shepherd	Dual Purpose
Officer Ryan Kidwell	Millie	Belgian Malinois	Single Purpose
Officer John H. Fontenett	Koa	German Shepherd	Dual Purpose
Officer Peter Croak	Chewy	Belgian-Malinois	Dual Purpose
Officer Cory Cole	Apollo	German Shepherd	Dual Purpose

Canine Training and Daily Care:

Detective Holmes with "Bo"

The Port Arthur Police Department Canines (trailing, cadaver and narcotics detection) are trained in-house by the K-9 Detail.  Training continues throughout the career of each Canine.  The canine members of the Port Arthur Police Department are kenneled at their handlers' homes.  Although not a "family-pet," the dogs are members of each handler's family.  Handlers are quick to point out that all Canines are "working dogs," not pets.  Because these animals are so well trained and have stable, obedient personalities, they fit well into the officers' families, and are properly obedient and respectful around the officers' children and family pets.

K-9 Demonstrations:

The Port Arthur Police K-9 Detail provides informative talks and K-9 demonstrations to schools, clubs, and professional organizations about the functions of police canines and how they are able to assist law enforcement officers to perform their job more effectively.  The K-9 Detail also gives short demonstrations which allow participants to view first-hand how the police canine works. These demonstrations help dispel any false impressions the public may have about police K-9's as well as increase and improve police community relations. Any request for K-9 demonstrations or services can be made to Sgt. Kris Boneau 409-983-8680.

K-9's and their Handlers:

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