On Thursday, October 7, 2010 the Vermont Police Canine Association (VPCA) took a moment to recognize Dr. Paul Howard and his staff at the Vermont Veterinary Surgical Center (VVSC) located at 35 Clay Point Road, Colchester. Dr. Howard and his staff have continuously supported us with veterinary care, first aid training for K9 handlers, and a never ending friendship to the members of the VPCA. Most importantly, they have provided an immeasurable service to our K9′s that help protect and keep the citizens of our state safe every day.
The staff of the VVSC has come to the aid of our K9′s for several years. Regardless of the time of day, their schedule, available appointments, or personal reasons (such as Dr. Howard attempting to celebrate his wedding anniversary or the staff attending a wedding), when one of us calls with an emergency because a Police K9 has been injured, they have responded so we can get back to work as soon as possible.
Dr. Howard has been a strong proponent of our K9 program for many years, but took a strong interest in the K9 program when one of our K9′s, K9 Kilo (of the Winooski and Colchester Police Departments) needed care in 1999. K9 Kilo became a regular visitor for many years until his death in 2006. Dr. Howard then flew Officer Dewey and the VT Police Canine Program’s head trainer Robert Ryan to Ohio to purchase a new dog to fill Kilo’s position. Over the years Dr. Howard has treated approximately 20 of our Police K9 teams from VT, NH, and NY. It has always been obvious that Dr. Howard enjoys his chosen profession, but it quickly became apparent that his passion is working with the K9 dogs. As Dr. Howard stated: ” It is a privilege to be entrusted with the care of your partners; it is a responsibility that my staff and I take very seriously. Fortunately my staff is as passionate about it as I am. Thanks for recognizing their efforts.”
Dr. Howard and our friend Kirk Walters, who lost his beloved friend and personal companion Lacey, a yellow lab, started Lacey’s Fund in 2008. This fund was created to help our VPCA retired K9′s with medical and end-of-life expenses.
K-9 alerted on a backpack during a motor vehicle search and $9,970 in suspected drug money was seized from a pair of jeans inside the backpack.
K-9 alerted on a vehicle and 23 grams of marijuana was confiscated during a search warrant application.
Hard surface tracking find with multiple turns on city sidewalks of a suspect wanted for threatening a victim with a knife. K-9 tracked a few blocks to the suspect’s residence for the find.
K-9 tracked from the scene of a burglary into nearby woods, down a steep hill and then made the find of the suspect who was hiding under some brush.
Short tracking find on a one hour old track of a suicidal subject with a handgun. K-9 located the subject sitting down next to a building with the gun still in his hand. K-9 performed a sit watch and during hard orders the subject dropped the gun.
A search warrant was obtained after K-9 alerted on a postal package and over a 1\4 ounce of cocaine was confiscated.
Tracking find of a larceny suspect from a vehicle through crowded streets down to a river bank where the suspect was deep in water and threatening the life of officer and dog. The suspect threw a metal rake and hit K-9 and then threw a rock at the handler. K-9 was not sent for fear of being drowned and handler tazed suspect and ended the conflict.
During a search warrant K-9 alerted on a storage trunk and backpack and over 10 ounces of marijuana and almost 2 ounces of hashish was confiscated along with $12,000 in suspected drug money.
Tracking find of a suspect wanted for assault with a deadly weapon and DUI. The suspect was found behind a vacant building in the fetal position with a knife on him.
Tracking find of a suspect attempting to break into his ex-girlfriend’s residence before fleeing. K-9 tracked through woods, onto hard surfaces, and then back into the woods before the suspect gave up when he heard K-9 approaching.
Vehicle alert led to $2900, over 2 grams of cocaine and pills being confiscated. A search warrant obtained for a residence and an indoor grow operation found.
Tracking find of suspect wanted in armed robbery with a knife of fentinol patches. K-9 tracked from the PLS to a residence where suspect had been. Residents advised where the suspect was brought via vehicle and he was arrested.
Over 2 lbs. of marijuana located after a k-9 alert led to a search warrant on a vehicle.
K-9 alert on a vehicle where 6.7 grams of crack cocaine was located after consent given.
Alerted on a lock box that had 4 grams of cocaine inside.
Vehicle alert led to search warrant where felony amount of cocaine located (2.5 grams) and almost 1\4 ounce of marijuana.
Short tracking find of DUI suspect who fled after crashing his vehicle.
Short tracking find of suspect who fled out a window during a search warrant application. The suspect was located hiding under a bush halfway down a steep hill.
Mostly hard surface tracking find of burglary suspect found with stolen items.
An alert on a vehicle resulted in over an ounce of cocaine and $840 being confiscated.
Area search find of a missing intoxicated female. She was found in shallow water lying on rocks in a river, over a steep ledge.
Tracking\evidence find of a pursuit suspect on a motorcycle. The suspect rode into the woods and jumped off his motorcycle and ran. K-9 found the motorcycle and soon after the suspect.
Tracked a DUI|LSA suspect from the crash scene to a store. The suspect was not on scene but later admitted he walked to the store with a BAC of .150.
Tracking find of an armed robber from a convenience store through city streets, into woods, onto railroad tracks to a vehicle.
Alerts on a truck two k-9s resulted in a search warrant that resulted in 122 marijuana plants, almost 1\2 ounce of processed marijuana, 58 suboxine pills and $645 in suspected drug money along with drug paraphernalia being confiscated.
An alert by K-9 on a safe resulted in $14,000 in suspected drug money found.
Short tracking find of a DUI suspect who fled from his vehicle. The suspect was located by police during the track and K-9 alerted on the detained suspect.
During a search warrant deployment K-9 alerted on some shoe boxes that were inside a full garage. Inside one of the shoe boxes was 27.1 grams of marijuana.
VT. POLICE K-9 PROGRAM 2010 HIGHLIGHT TOTALS (3rd Quarter)The following totals only include those that were reported to TC Ryan. There are many more lower level drug finds and tracking finds that are not included in the program highlights so the following statistics are the minimal totals recorded.
* $40,155 in suspected drug money
* 14 Criminal Tracking Finds
* 2 lbs. and 11 1\2 oz. marijuana
* 1 1\2 ounces cocaine
* 6.7 grams crack cocaine
* 1 Search and Rescue find
Frank Post and K9 Bricks, new out of the Academy, with an early good find: On a traffic stop, consent to search was granted, and K9 Bricks searched the vehicle’s interior. Bricks alerted to a bag, inside was a ¼ pound of marijuana. Same night: assist to another agency for a building search. After Frank’s announcement and Brick’s warning, the guy gave up, yelling “I don’t want any piece of that dog!” K9 Bricks also had an alert to another vehicle after consent a week later. Recovered during search was marijuana, and $25,000 wirth of precription pills to include plus 2 loaded weapons possessed by a felon.
The VPCA hosted a Decoy School at the Academy. Three handlers and three decoys attended, spending the long weekend being hit, punched, tackled and bit by our dogs. Good school.
A PET’S TEN COMMANDMENTS………. 1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you is likely to b e painful. 2. Give me time to understand what you want of me. 3. Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being. 4. Don’t be angry with me for long and don’t lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainment, but I have only you. 5. Talk to me. Even if I don’t understand your words, I do understand your voice when speaking to me. 6. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it. 7. Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I could hurt you, and yet, I choose not to bite you. 8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I’m not getting the right food, I have been in the sun too long, or my heart might be getting old or weak. 9. Please take care of me when I grow old. You too, will grow old. 10. On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please. Never say you can’t bear to watch. Don’t make me face this alone. Everything is easier for me if you are there, because I love you so.
The VPCA hosted a Decoy School at the Academy. Three handlers and three decoys attended, spending the long weekend being hit, punched, tackled and bit by our dogs. Good school.
