Friday afternoon at Missouri State University, two officers from the Springfield Police K9 Unit showcased their police dogs and discussed how they are used to sniff out drugs and track down suspects.
Police officer Laura Kitta and police Cpl. William Hill, held a presentation for prospective criminal justice students and members of the community.
The two officers showed how their dogs, K9 Zeda and K9 Dutch, use their heightened sense of smell to detect narcotics, using a small bag of marijuana in a cardboard box as an example.
Kristin Roop, freshmen admissions coordinator for MSU, was instrumental in planning the event, along with Dr. Brett Garland, department head of criminology for MSU.
Garland said these informational sessions are held around three times a year and are helpful for students who may be considering whether or not to major in criminology.
“If somebody is interested in us, they come over here and I talk to them a little bit about what our major is like, what our program can give them in terms of career opportunities,” said Garland. “Then I turn the show over to the officers, and they kind of walk through the issues that are involved with K-9 searches.”
Police dogs have a highly sensitive sense of smell, which comes in handy when tracking down missing persons, suspected criminals and drug paraphernalia.
Once the dogs reach their retirement age, however, they are often adopted by a handler. Kitta says the strong bond she has with her dog is one of the most rewarding things about her job.
“I know I’ve only had my dog for about 7 months, but, I mean, he’s my best friend. He goes to work with me and stays home with me. I spend more time with him than anybody else in the world, so.”
The working relationship between officer and dog doesn’t stop after a work shift is over. Kitta says she spends about 10 hours every Monday training with her dog. And that doesn’t include the numerous books she has to read on the subject.
Hill said seeing the canines develop and grow with the officer is an enriching experience, and part of the reason why he has been in the department for 16 years now.
“You train the dog and you see it progressing and getting better,” said Hill. “And it’s learning what you want it to do and it’s starting to do it just automatically once you ask it to. That’s very rewarding.”
Police departments are undergoing a shift in what dog breeds are employed, said Kitta. Currently, the Belgian Malinios are becoming the standard police dog, as opposed to the German Shepard. Springfield’s Police Department has a total of five Malinios and no German Shepherds, as of now.
Malinios are considered a more aggressive breed and are faster when attacking, as compared to the stout German Shepherd.
When it comes to choosing a dog, police go to vendors and pick a dog between 18 months and 2 years of age. The dogs then go through a 3-month training program, covering narcotics detection and apprehension. The program is curtailed around the personality of the dog.
Kritta and Hill do informational sessions throughout the year, and advise that people not pet police dogs, but feel free to ask their handlers all about them.