News
K-9 unit comes to Bottineau County
Scott Wagar
04/24/2012
It was a busy time for Jett this past week as he spent time “sniffing” around three public schools in Bottineau County searching for illegal counter band.
“Jett is a black Lab with the K-9 unit of the North Dakota Highway Department,” said Mike Schott, a member of the North Dakota State Highway Patrol’s K-9 unit who is Jett’s trainer and partner. “Jett and I assist with a lot of school searches in our region of North Dakota, which consist of the northwest region of the state.”
Last week, Schott, Jett and Sheriff Steve Watson of Bottineau County, with two of his deputies, conducted searchers at Bottineau and Newburg’s public schools and Dakota College at Bottineau, which in the dog’s searches detected no drugs in the academic institutions.
POLICE DOGS
Schott stated that Jett is so well trained as a drug dog that when he comes across something suspicious while searching lockers, rooms or vehicles in parking lots, there is seldom any doubt that the animal has come across illicit drugs.
“If there is an alert, it’s 100.1 percent that the canine has more than likely found his toy (drug),” Schott said, who added that dogs act differently with different types of counter band. “Drug dogs are aggressive dogs. Once they find a drug they become very aggressive, they will paw and scratch to get at the drug. On the other hand, bomb dogs are trained to be submissive, because if they were aggressive like a drug dog, it is quite possible that they could set off a bomb, and you don’t want a bomb going off in that line of work. Bomb dogs will stop and stare at their target, which is unusual for a dog.”
When it comes to dog breeds, only a certain number of breeds are used in law enforcement. Most police dogs consist of German Shepherds, Belgium Malinios, black Labs and Blood Hounds.
German Shepherds and Malinios are used as K-9 dogs, black Labs are common drug dogs, while Blood Hounds are used for tracking.
DRUG PROGRAM
According to Watson, drug searches in Bottineau County schools are done in association with law enforcement and school administrations.
“The administration or school boards ask law enforcement to come into their schools out of concern about drug activity,” Watson said. “The schools give us clearance and invite the canine unit into their buildings.”
Watson also stated that the drug canine program is a good way to educate students on not using drugs and hopefully making them think twice before getting involved in narcotics.
Jason Kersten, superintendent of the Bottineau School District, feels the association between the school and law enforcement is a good joint venture.
“Over the past seven years, the district has requested the sheriff’s department to bring a drug dog into the school for a search. Watson and his deputies have been very good about scheduling a drug dog and officer to come into the school at least two times a year,” Kersten said. “As superintendent, I appreciate the cooperation law enforcement gives to the school in helping to maintain a safe learning environment for students, staff and the community.”
PARTNERS
As for Schott, and the work he conducts in the canine unit with Jett, is a great experience for him.
“It’s a unique sub-division in law enforcement,” he said. “It’s unique because I get to work with a dog like Jett who is a good partner at my side and is fun to work with. Jett is a great dog and he is not only my partner but a friend.”