THE NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY’S K-9 UNIT

The United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has been tracking trends in drug crime which now have significant impact, not merely an influence, upon our society. To quote a recent article from the DEA; “The trafficking and abuse inflict tremendous harm upon individuals, families, and communities throughout the country. The violence, intimidation, theft, and financial crimes carried out by Drug Trafficking Organizations (DTOs), criminal groups, gangs and drug users in the United State pose a significant threat to our nation. The cost to society from production, trafficking, and abuse is difficult to measure or convey; however, the most recent data available is helpful in framing the extent of the threat. For example:

• More than 35 million individuals used illicit drugs or abused prescription drugs in 2007

• In 2006, individuals entered public drug treatment facilities more than 1 million times seeking assistance in ending their addiction to illicit or prescription drugs.

• More than 1,100 children were injured at, killed at, or removed from methamphetamine laboratory sites from 2007 through September 2008.

• In 2007 more than 1.8 million drug related arrests in the United States were carried out by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

• Mexican and Columbian DTO’s generate, remove, and launder between $18 billion and $39 billion in wholesale drug proceeds annually.

• Diversion of controlled prescription drugs cost insurance companies up to $72.5 billion annually, nearly two-thirds of which is paid by public insurers.”

To say that we have a drug problem in our communities would be an understatement. This plague has truly taken its hold on, and throughout, the State of Nevada.

In April, 2008, Director Hafen presented the DPS K-9 work program to the Interim Finance Committee (IFC). The committee accepted our plans to develop a top flight K-9 program, which provided us with the opportunity to implement a new strategy in fighting drugs and crime on our state highways. The program which was presented to the IFC closely mirrored our neighboring counterpart, the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

In August 2008, the Nevada DPS equipped and began to train six K-9 unit teams that were placed in the urban areas of Las Vegas and Reno. The Department contracted with Donn Yarnell, a retired Sergeant from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) where he completed a 28 year career, retiring as a police Sergeant. Donn was responsible for developing our program and choosing the canines. During Donn’s tenure with LAPD, he spent many years working with police service dogs. Donn was instrumental in establishing LAPD’s first K-9 Unit, that later grew into one of the nation’s largest and finest K-9 programs.

The task of identifying and obtaining canines would not have been possible without the direct support of “Nevada State Friends for K-9”. The Nevada State Friends for K-9 is a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting law enforcement in launching a police K-9 program for use in curbing the flow of drugs, particularly methamphetamine, in our communities. This organization is comprised of several business leaders in Nevada. We would like to thank them for their unified support in helping to make our program a success. You can contact them through their website, www.friends4k9.com.

K-9 Officer Shawn Haggstrom is assigned canine Jaeger, K-9 Officer Moonin is teamed with canine Teko, K-9 Officer West is partnered with canine Hilo, K-9 Officer Lee is leashed to canine Petey, K-9 Officer Gordon is hitched with canine Popeye, and K-9 Officer Ferguson is united with canine Willy. The K-9 Unit began its training in August 2008 and four K-9 teams completed their initial basic training in November 2008. Officer’s Moonin, Haggstrom, West, and Lee began their first on-the-job training (OJT) shift in early December. Through May 1, 2009, in conjunction with the Interdiction and Criminal Enforcement (I.C.E.) teams in Las Vegas and Reno, the four K-9 teams have assisted, or been instrumental in the following seizures:

We anticipate these K-9 teams will continue to accomplish the goals and objectives set for them throughout the remainder of 2009, and that these teams will continue to have a dramatic and direct impact in curbing the flow of illegal drugs entering our communities.

The DEA has determined that there is often a direct link between drug trafficking and the funding of terrorist organizations. It is inevitable that the violence occurring in drug wars south of our border will soon find its way into the United States. Narco-Terrorism has and will continue to present a great threat to the safety and security of the United States and the State of Nevada. As a department with the responsibility for public safety we must prepare ourselves for this predictable time, “what is predictable is preventable”. We are very proud of our Nevada DPS K-9 Unit. It brings a new level of professionalism to the department. The new K-9 officers and canines have all worked very hard in helping bring this unit to life. There have been many hardships and sacrifices along the way, and we appreciate the willingness and commitment of our K-9 teams, trainers and supporting programs to make the DPS K-9 Unit a success.

We still have a long road ahead before we can claim real success. We will need the continued support of all our Troopers and DPS Officers. We could not have realized theses successes in such a short time if it were not from the support of our DPS brothers and sisters.