Citizen Police Academy: Taking a Bite Out of Crime

Eliot is just 15 months old, but he has one heck of a bite.

The German shepherd has been Officer Britain Jackman’s K-9 partner for about a year.

Born in the Czech Republic, Eliot can sniff out various drugs such as heroin, ecstasy, cocaine, marijuana and methamphetamines and take down any perpetrators who do not follow police officers’ commands.

The Newark Police Department has had a K-9 program for 20 years, and on Wednesday the Newark Citizen Police Academy got a lesson on how the canines help when it comes to police investigations.

A dog’s sense of smell is a million times better than that of its human counterpart. This skill allows dogs to find drugs that have been hidden in the oddest places — and people.

Officers who headed the K-9 class recalled times when people hid in small, confined spaces such as cabinets under bathroom sinks and cabinets above kitchen countertops.

They said the dogs work based on their training, not emotions.

Here are some other interesting facts:

• All of the dogs who have been part of Newark’s K-9 program have been German shepherds.
• Many of the dogs have been born in Germany, Czechoslovakia or China. The reason is that breeding is more controlled in these areas.
• K-9s usually serve a five-year term and are given annual exams. After five years, the canine’s performance is evaluated to see whether he or she can continue on in the program.
• The characteristics officers look for in a K-9 include drive, sociability and self-motivation.
• There are three different types of drive in a dog that officers look for:
  • Prey – This pertains to the dog’s bite. Officers want a dog’s bite to hold because perpetrators often hit at the dog, and the dog must be able to hold on until officers can apprehend that suspect.
  • Play – The canine must love being rewarded for its work. This becomes important when it comes to having the dog find drugs as they are often reward with type of treat (normally a toy they are accustomed to).
  • Defense – This again deals with the dog’s ability to act when a perpetrator attacks him or her. The dog should be able to fight, rather than take flight.

The Newark Police Department has two K-9 officers, Patrick Smith and Jackman, who handle their canine partners Henk and Eliot, respectively.

Another K-9 will be joining the force in the next few weeks.

For more information on the police department’s K-9 unit, click here. See the video above to see a demonstration of the K-9 demonstration.

Editor's Note: Officers assured academy attendees that the devices used during training do not harm the canines but are used as distractors.