TESTS TELL IF DOGS HAVE NOSE FOR DRUGS

PORTLAND - No matter how developed your senses are, you will never match
the sense of smell that comes naturally to a dog.

Last week in Portland, as the United States Police Canine Academy held
accreditation testing at Portland Middle School, the ability of trained
dogs to sniff out drugs was evident. The testing was sponsored by the
Portland Police Department and under the direction of K-9 Officer Jerry
Bradley.

Dogs and their handlers from across a large chunk of Tennessee came for
their annual recertification, making them and their work certified in law
enforcement.

"Many of the counties and cities can't financially support a police dog,"
said Adam Barnes, an officer from Hohenwald who came with his dog, Solomon.
"Our city bought the dog for me, but I pretty much supply everything else,"
he said.

"The food, lodging, veterinary bills are a lot, but I completely believe in
the dog's worth and ability. The dog more than paid for himself just a few
days after I got him, in a drug raid."

In Portland, German shepherds, Labrador retrievers and Belgian malinois
were put through their paces one at a time. The dogs sniffed out drugs
hidden in vehicles and classrooms by the training authorities.

"People don't realize that having a police dog is a 24-hour,
seven-days-a-week job," said Franklin Officer Rodney Escovar, rubbing his
dog, Noc.

"I have four children and feel like I have five with Noc around, because it
takes so much time to keep them trained and ready at all times."

The certification tests were conducted by Carl Smith from Franklin and Dean
Hunter from Metro Nashville, both dog handlers and trainers as well as
police officers certified by the U.S. academy.

Most of the dogs at Portland were narcotics dogs, with some cross-trained
in patrolling and apprehension.

Rural areas have many methamphetamine labs and marijuana fields. The cities
have their share of crack houses, "designer" drug manufacturers and heroin.

"It's like a drug will go out of sight for a while and then it comes back
in style again," Barnes said.

The drug dogs are trained to find almost any type of drug, especially those
with the same base, such as marijuana-based or heroin- and cocaine-based drugs.

As in the case of Solomon, many of the officers said their dogs' upkeep and
training is paid for with confiscated drug money the dogs help bring in.