K-9 UNIT AIDS DRUG PROGRAM

COLUMBUS - Kai loves to play.

But when duty calls the 3-year-old is always ready.

Armed with a keen sense of smell and a commitment to his responsibility,
Kai, a member of the K-9 Division of the Nebraska State Patrol, works with
his human handler, Trooper Jim Bills.

Members of the Nebraska State Patrol including Kai were at Carneco Foods in
Columbus this week, presenting a one-day drug awareness program. Kim
Schumacher, director of human resources at Carneco, said 44 managers at the
plant attended the presentation.

Because Carneco recently implemented a stronger drug policy, Schumacher
said she hopes the presentation will make employees more aware of the signs
of drug abuse and help the business maintain a drug-free environment.

Part of the presentation involved the managers taping boxes and rolling
carts through cones while wearing vision-impairing goggles. The other part
of the presentation involved Kai.

Prior to letting Kai, a Belgian Malinois, out of his kennel, Bills hid
about 20 grams of marijuana in the hood of one of the vehicles in the
parking lot. As soon as Kai was let out and took a whiff in the air, he
sensed drugs were nearby.

On command, Kai searched for the drugs. The search only took a few seconds
as the animal went straight to the hidden drugs. Thanks to a powerful
sniffer, dogs have aided the state patrol with drug work and other areas of
law enforcement for several dozens of years, Bills said.

"Dogs smell like we see color," he said. "When you walk into Pizza Hut you
smell pizza. But a dog would smell the pepperoni, the dough, the pizza
sauce ..."

In total, the Nebraska State Patrol has 17 dogs that includes the breeds
Belgian Malinois, Belgian Shepherd, German Shepherd and beagle. The dogs
undergo eight weeks of training to become certified and after certification
they go through weekly training.

Dogs are not only trained in drug work but also patrol work that involves
tracking fugitives and lost children, searching buildings and handler
protection. Kai is trained in drug detection, tracking, evidence recovery
and handler protection. Of the 17 dogs the patrol has, one is a bomb dog
and another is a cadaver dog.

According to the Nebraska State Patrol Web site, in 2000, the K-9 Division
was responsible for the capture of 24 suspects and are credited with
tracking six other suspects who were found and arrested.

Dogs used by the division are usually brought from Europe where good
bloodlines are prevalent, Bills said.

Each dog costs $3,500-$5,000 and are purchased by the Nebraska State Patrol
Foundation which is made up of public donations, according to the Web site.

Service dogs usually work until they are 8 or 9, then they retire.

Since being teamed with Kai, who lives with Bills in Oakland, Bills said
they have formed a strong relationship.

"I'm his dad," Bills said. "I provide for all his needs."