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Bomb-sniffing dogs join WMU police force

By mLive

KALAMAZOO — Two new officers joined the police force at Western Michigan University.

German shepherds Brax and Oso are the newest members of WMU Public Safety, according to a press release from the university.

The explosive-detection police dogs are younger than 2 years old, and represent the only police dogs of their type in Kalamazoo County, the release said.

Police dogs are trained to smell bombs or drugs, but cannot be trained in both disciplines, WMU Public Safety Chief Scott Merlo said.

The police dogs are also trained to help with patrol, can track suspects and help find missing people, Merlo said.

“They are another piece of equipment, and God forbid something were to happen, these dogs can do things we can’t,” Merlo said.

Public Safety had received requests for this type of trained canine from the university’s athletic department, he said.

“There is always an unfortunate need for explosive-detection K-9s,” Merlo said. “Most athletic events, especially football games, utilize a bomb-detection team to sweep stadiums prior to events, and there have been requests the last few years for this service.”

Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office and Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety have drug-sniffing dogs, Merlo said, but no police dogs trained to sniff out explosives.

Kalamazoo County Undersheriff Jim Van Dyken said the county currently has three active-duty police dogs that are trained to smell narcotics. If the need for bomb-detection arose for the county, they would work collaboratively with WMU Public Safety, he said.

Before, in the event of a bomb threat anywhere in Kalamazoo County, including schools or county offices, Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety or the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office would request assistance from Michigan State Police.

With trained dogs now stationed in Kalamazoo, local police can respond more quickly to any threats, Merlo said.

KDPS K9 Unit Supervisor Sgt. Jeff DeBlecourt said the city currently has seven canines trained in patrol and narcotics discovery. It is the largest police dog unit in Kalamazoo County, he said.

The new police dogs at WMU have a third purpose of helping strengthen police relations with the campus community and to make police officers more approachable, Merlo said.

The hope is that students will come to “love and accept” the dogs and feel comfortable approaching the officers and their canines, he said.

People are encouraged to come up and meet the dogs, but should do it with “respect and caution,” Merlo said.

The dogs are large, but very laid back and friendly, he said. But like with any dog, people shouldn’t lunge at them or try and grab them, he said.

The dogs and their handlers, officers Travis Cable and Michael Lininger trained for three months at a facility in Taylor, Michigan. They were certified in explosive detection and patrol in mid-January, the release said.

The dogs will live with the officers in their homes and train multiple times a week, the release said.

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