Arlington Explosive Detection Canine Unit
By Mola Lenghi
The
Arlington Fire Department is open to the second-largest explosive
detection canine unit in North Texas behind DFW Airport. The seven
Labradors don't just work in Arlington.
The Arlington Fire Department Bomb Squad's specially trained labs are trained to do just that.
“You can’t beat the nose. They can smell what we can't see. They
can pick up an odor distances away,” said Darin Niederhaus with AFD’s
Bomb Squad.
The team of seven dogs sweeps cars, buildings and venues like
Cowboys Stadium and Rangers Ballpark for major events or when high
profile dignitaries are in attendance in search of bombs and firearms.
The dogs can pick up the scent of anything from shell casings to high explosives.
“Around the world explosives and IEDs are becoming more prominent
these guys give us the ability to pick them up prior to ever getting
into large crowds,” said Niederhaus.
The newest addition to the unit is a yellow lab named Jasper. He is
a vapor wake detection dog -- trained to ID potential suicide bombers.
“[Jasper] has a stronger nose than most explosive detection K-9s
and he can detect moving scents through the air,” said Niederhaus.
“Training never stops. Training is ongoing. We have to keep the
dogs fresh on the odors, different scenarios, different venues. We try
to get them everything we can so that way it's never our first time
going in there,” added Niederhaus.
The dogs run the city about $130,000 - that covers everything from the training to the vehicles they come in.
The city has the second-largest explosive detection canine unit in north Texas.
Up to bed bug sniffing detection, amazing that dogs are also useful on this king of task...
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