K9 Units in Public Transportation: A Guide for Decision Makers (2002)

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63 SECTION 6: CONSIDERATIONS FOR EXPLOSIVES DETECTION Since the tragic events of September 11, many public transportation systems have become interested in the use of K9 units to support explosives detection. Previous sections have provided information on how specialty or dual use explosives detection dogs can be used in the transportation environment. This section provides additional resources for transportation systems on managing bomb threats and other situations requiring facility searches using K9 assistance. CAPABLITIES OF EXPLOSIVES DETECTION K9S Explosive detector dogs are trained to smell explosives and indicate detection of the explosive to the handler by assuming an unassisted sitting position (called passive response or passive alert). In the transportation environment, these dogs can: ❐ clear a suspicious package in a matter of minutes; ❐ screen a bus or rail car in less than 15 minutes; and ❐ search a 20,000-square-foot station in under 2 hours. As described in this Guide’s earlier sections, explosives detection capability can be obtained from a single purpose, or specialty, K9 team or a dual purpose K9 team. The most common use of these teams is for searching areas or buildings against which a bomb threat has been made. These teams are also useful in investigations involving most types of weapons, ammunitions, or explosives. Information indicating hidden materials in a general or specific place can be checked and verified quickly by using these teams. Patrol teams also perform normal patrol duties when not required for detection work. General responsibilities for explosives detector specialty K9 teams are listed below. ❐ Explosive detection dogs will be used to search for hidden explosives or explosive devices. ❐ Generally, explosive detection searching will be conducted after the area has been cleared of people. ❐ The search should be concentrated on containers or objects that do not appear to belong or have been reported and cannot be cleared, general public areas, and other transportation facilities. ❐ Once a device is found or suspected, indicated by a passive alert, the appropriate explosive personnel will be summoned to handle the situation. ❐ The explosive detection dog handler will not attempt to disarm any device found or move any explosive material to another location.

64 ❐ The explosive detection dog handler is responsible for the care and custody of training aids. These training aids are stored in a safe for explosives with stringent access control protocols. When the training aids become worn or unstable, a certified bomb unit will be contacted and requested to take possession of the aid for destruction. ❐ All explosive detection searches will be documented on official reports and filed with the system. Programs that certify the capabilities of K9 teams to perform explosives detection include the following: ATF Canine Detection Program: POC: Rhonda Trahern/ Chief K9 Operations Branch 650 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Room 7100, Washington DC 20226 Ph: 202-927-8163 Email: RLTrahern@atfhq.atf.treaf.gov National Narcotic Detector Dog Association (NNDDA): POC: Terry Uetrecht, National Secretary PO Box 937 Portland TX, 78374 Ph: 888-444-3764 Fax: 361-528-2501 Email: nnddasecretary@yahoo.com United States Police Canine Association (USPCA): POC: James Nichols, Jr./President PO Box 973 Punta Gorda, FL 33951 Fax: 941-743-7497 Email: K9NICK0203@aol.com North American Police Work Dog Association (NAPWDA): POC: Bill Faus Sr./ National Treasurer 4222 Manchester Avenue Perry, OH 44081 Ph: 440-259-3169 Fax: 440-259-3170 Email: www.napwda.com/contact/ Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS): POC: Lt. Mike Reid Washington Navy Yard Building 200 Washington DC 20374 Ph: 202-433-9132 Email: www.ncis.mil/contact.html#hq Department of Defense Military Working Dog Center: Lackland Air Force Base, Texas POC: SMSgt. John Pearce/ FAA Explosive Detective Canine Handler Team 341st Training Squadron Lackland AFB, TX Ph: 210-671-3899 Also Contact: Mr. David Kontny Program Mgr. TSA, 202-267-3136 Email: david.kontny@faa.gov Email: thomas.taaffe@faa.gov National Police Canine Association (NPCA): POC: Rick Ramsey PO Box 254 Gretna, LA 70054 Ph: 877-362-1219 Email: www.npca.net

65 These certifications typically provide minimum assurances regarding the capabilities of the K9 team to perform to certain standards. However, these certifications are typically valid for 2 years, and without ongoing training programs, the capabilities of the K9 team will suffer. In addition, it is important to understand that no matter how good the K9 team is, some explosives may be undetectable to them. Some teams train on fewer odors than others. Additionally, some teams train on limited quantities and may not have a lot of access to new or varied materials. This means that even though the team has swept an area, it may not be free from explosive devices. Transportation systems must plan accordingly. BOMB THREAT PROCEDURES Whether the bomb threat is phoned in, received by mail or delivery, or presents itself in the form of a package, suitcase, or unclaimed item that does not seem familiar, every transportation system should have procedures in place regarding its response. Typically, transportation systems use: ❐ notification procedures and checklists for handling telephone threats; ❐ evaluation criteria for making decisions regarding whether to evacuate passenger and administrative facilities; and ❐ basic guidelines for deciding when to call local law enforcement. For those systems with major transportation stations, facility bomb threat response plans may have been developed to guide response from local law enforcement, direct emergency staging, manage evacuation and perimeter control, conduct searches, and make the decision to re-occupy. In every case, transportation personnel should consider the safety of the evacuation site and the possibility of secondary devices aimed at emergency responders. When transportation systems deploy their own explosives detection K9 teams, they can typically respond more effectively to threats and packages, quickly determining the legitimacy of threat. This type of response saves community resources, as the local explosives ordinance disposal unit (bomb squad) is only called when the transportation K9 has discovered a package or other item. Even if the transportation system does not support its own K9 team, it can still deploy this threat response capability through contracts with local vendors. Most vendors in major cities guarantee response in less than 30 minutes. Given the seriousness of the situation, and the fact that the local bomb squad may be able to arrive anywhere between 30 to 120 minutes, transportation systems must make careful decisions about who to call, when to make the call, and what contracting vehicles it should have in place. Transportation systems considering local vendor options should investigate the issues in Table 23.

66 TABLE 23: QUESTIONS FOR VENDORS5 COMPANY OPERATIONS ❐ How long has the company been in business and how much experience (how many years) does the company have with explosive detection operations? ❐ Is explosive detection or incident mitigation the company's primary focus or is its primary business running a kennel, environmental cleanup, pet owner obedience, etc.? ❐ If the company advertises detection dogs for explosives, drugs, cadavers, currency, and agricultural products, as well as patrolling and search and rescue, how does the company remain proficient in each of these highly specialized areas? ❐ Are the dogs cross-trained in reckless combinations such as explosives, weapons, and drug detection in the same dog? ❐ Does the company have the assets to perform projects, or do they outsource to handlers with dogs? If they outsource, how do they, or you, verify and control the quality and capability of the team? ❐ Does a company violate client confidentiality by listing client names on advertising, thereby telling the world that the client has a need for protection against bombings, or is client information kept in the utmost of confidence? COMPANY MANAGEMENT ❐ What is the experience of the company’s management? ❐ Are the managers themselves skilled in explosives detection? If a manager spent time as a law enforcement officer, was it in a capacity where bomb incident management was the priority? ❐ Does the management of the company engage in any other facet of explosive detection operations other than canine, or are they limited in expertise? ❐ Does the management of the company understand the challenge of bombings in the area of operations? Can they identify which types of explosive compositions are used? Are the dogs trained on these odors? Can the answers be backed up with hard data, including training records or other appropriate documentation? THE HANDLER AND CANINE TEAM ❐ Do the company's personnel integrate and work well with others? ❐ Do the personnel have a good work ethic? ❐ What is the experience level of the handlers assigned to your project? Have they completed at least one tour as a military explosive detection dog (EDD) handler or at least 4 years as a law enforcement EDD handler? Can the company offer documentation of this? 5 Supplied by Explosives Countermeasures International at http://www.nobombs.net/K9_questions.html.

67 TABLE 23: QUESTIONS FOR VENDORS5 ❐ Does the company have an initial training program for new personnel? ❐ What continuing education and training do the company's personnel attend? ❐ Does the company make active efforts to cross-train with other groups and agencies, or are they professionally isolated? ❐ Are the handlers qualified in other bomb countermeasures skills? ❐ Is the dog’s appearance, temperament, and sociability appropriate for your operations? Is basic obedience lacking? Do handlers have to fight with dogs during simple tasks such as dropping toys? ❐ Is the company willing and capable of discussing individual dogs? TRAINING AIDS ❐ Some vendors have found that, in addition to upfront costs, a budget of at least $4,000 annually is required to maintain adequate scent training aids (explosives and precursor chemicals). What is the company's current budget? ❐ How does the company store scent training aids? ❐ Does the company train with live materials, or do they use a lot of simulants? ❐ What training aid weights does the company have on hand, and on what weights do they train? ❐ How does the company prevent cross contamination of scent training aids? Do they recognize the term cross contamination? ❐ What does the company do with older or contaminated scent training aids? ❐ Does the company have adequate exemplar training aids (inert devices) such as improvised explosive devices, booby traps, and mines to accomplish realistic team training? VERIFIABLE INTEGRITY AND ETHICS ❐ Does the company oppose or encourage clients verifying a team’s performance by planting training aids without the team’s knowledge? ❐ Do the teams perform daily training? Is training documented and are training records open to inspection by clientele? ❐ Solid training techniques are a source of pride. They are not an esoteric secret. Is the company willing to precisely explain all training practices utilized from day one? Is the explanation satisfactory? ❐ Does the company know explosive compositions and chemistry? Is their certification list made up of numerous words for the same odor, such as calling RDX-based explosives C-2, C-3, C-4, Composition B, and Semtex? ❐ Is the company willing to candidly discuss not only the benefits but also the limitations of canines? ❐ Does the company have liability and workers' compensation insurance? ❐ Is the company willing to provide verifiable client references?

68 Even if the transportation system has explosives detection K9 capabilities, it will still rely on local law enforcement explosives ordinance disposal units (bomb squads) to dispose of the device. This relationship is critical and there are many activities that may support improved coordination. ❐ Invite the law enforcement team out to train at transportation stations and on vehicles. This provides the opportunity for transportation personnel to interact with the bomb squad. Bomb squad personnel may appreciate the opportunity to train in a different environment and to discuss procedures and plans. ❐ Get the local bomb squad involved with security or emergency exercises whenever possible. Even if the exercise does not involve explosives, the handler may be willing to attend to observe the emergency capabilities of the system. ❐ Find out how the transportation system can assist the bomb squad in an emergency on its property (perimeter control, access, chemical storage information, etc). As importantly, know what will not be helpful in an emergency. Develop procedures and have them reviewed by bomb squad personnel. ❐ Consider if there is an opportunity for partnership with the bomb squad regarding the costs of training, equipment, K9s, and other needs. Is there a way that the transportation system can bring resources to the unit? ❐ Create a plan that considers the limitations inherent in K9 teams. These may include search time, temperature, effective height, and time required in relation to the size of the area to be searched. ❐ Be patient in an emergency. A typical two-story office building will take a few hours to completely sweep. Remember, a canine can only work for a certain period of time before it needs to rest. A good search in a large facility takes time. ATF GUIDELINES All states must follow ATF guidelines for storage of explosive materials.6 States must establish requirements and restrictions regarding the handling of explosives. There is a lack of training in the area of K9 handling that could be an issue when evaluating certain types of packages and devices. To solve this problem, some federal agencies (such as ATF) recommend that transportation K9 units participate in explosives recognition training. This training can be obtained from a Certified Explosive Specialist (CES) in the local ATF office. The CES will come to the transportation unit and provide training. If an organization wishes to receive ATF assistance in the area of training with handling, storing, or disposing of explosives, ATF will provide these services, free of charge. 6 Federal Explosives Law and Regulations, ATF Pamphlet 5400.7, Chapter Subpart K – Storage.

69 However, the system must be sworn in law enforcement and must meet certain requirements set by ATF. The system must: ❐ have a good standing relationship with ATF; ❐ have a good relationship with a local bomb squad; and ❐ plan to train with the bomb squad and build the relationship before the explosives detection K9 unit is established. Some resources ATF recommends to transportation systems developing or deploying K9 units for explosives detection are: ❐ Arson and Explosives National Repository, an ATF warehouse of regulations and laws; ❐ ATF Explosive Enforcement Officers, to work with K9 teams for additional training on Render Safe and Device Determination; and ❐ Grant Information, available from ATF, TSA, FAA, and DOJ. ATF and FAA can also provide information on emerging simulant technology. Simulants are chemical compounds that simulate the odor of explosives, but are not actually explosives. Simulants are easier to handle, store, and use in training than actual explosives, but they may not always be as effective, depending on the experience of the trainer, dog, and handler. FINAL NOTE: EXPOSURE TO ANTHRAX7 Since many dogs function as detector dogs for a variety of services, it is possible for these animals to be exposed to Anthrax while performing their duties. Unfortunately, there is very limited information regarding the effects of Anthrax on dogs when the bacterium is used as a biologic weapon. Minimal information even exists regarding the naturally occurring infection. Following is a synopsis of some of the information available to be used as a resource for detector K9s. This information has been compiled using a variety of resources including communication with veterinarians using military working dogs. Significant input and support were also received from the Centers for Disease Control and Auburn University. The following is NOT meant to be the definitive resource or overriding protocol; instead, it is meant to be an attempt to provide as accurate information as possible for those involved with service canines. GENERAL INFORMATION Anthrax is caused by Bacillus anthracis, a gram positive, spore-forming bacterium. Dogs are thought to be approximately 500 to 1000 times more resistant than humans to the Anthrax infection. 7Provided by Dr. Paul S. McNamara, DVM DACVS. Questions can be emailed to psm@veterinaryspecialties.com.

70 Dogs may be susceptible to the same three forms of Anthrax as people (cutaneous, gastrointestinal, and respiratory). The most common form, historically, has been the gastrointestinal form, secondary to ingestion of contaminated meat. The incubation period for all forms is 2 to 7 days in people and is believed to be similar in dogs. Cutaneous Anthrax occurs when the bacteria come into direct contact with abrasions on the patient's skin. This form may be limited in canines due to their thick hair coat. Signs in people include development of large, bleeding sores (malignant carbuncles) that originally may look like insect bites. Mortality rate in people with cutaneous Anthrax is approximately 20 percent, probably because of the internal spread of the bacteria and its toxin through lymphatic spread. Gastrointestinal Anthrax occurs when a contaminated source is ingested. This is the most common form for naturally occurring Anthrax in carnivores. In dogs, much of the bacteria are thought to be captured by the immune system (i.e., tonsils), hence the lower infection rate. In people, gastrointestinal Anthrax is characterized by high fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and inappetence. Similar signs should be seen with dogs. Mortality rate varies between 25 and 75 percent. Inhalation Anthrax is the most deadly form and is most likely to occur in detector dogs while searching in a contaminated area. In people, flu-like symptoms are seen initially, followed by respiratory distress, high fever, and shock. Respiratory changes (panting, difficulty breathing, etc.) and fever are thought to occur in dogs as well. Bleeding from the mouth, nose, or rectum is possible. The mortality rate for people approaches 95 percent if treatment is not initiated within 48 hours of clinical signs. From this, it seems likely that there would also be a very high mortality rate in dogs, once clinical signs develop. However, it is important to note that in experiments conducted in the 1960s, scientists were not able to establish respiratory Anthrax infection in dogs by inhalation exposure to Anthrax spores. This may mean that canines are particularly protected against the most serious form of the disease (inhalation). TREATMENT First and foremost, in cases of potential exposure, the transportation system should employ all of the following described protective measures to decrease the chances of concurrent human exposure: ❐ minimize contact between the dog and other personnel and dogs; ❐ remove dog immediately to a self-contained, transportable unit; ❐ decontaminate area by using established, recommended protocols; ❐ obtain a sample from the substance for evaluation; and ❐ employ standard decontamination or safety measures for all personnel exposed to the situation and/or canine.

71 Consider testing samples from the canine to confirm or refute exposure. This can consist of nasal swabs, blood culture, and fecal culture. Results of the culture sensitivity may take several days. Thus, prophylactic treatment is recommended in cases of serious potential exposure. If there is a concern of exposure, initiate antibiotic therapy. Antibiotics used include penicillin, amoxicillin, ampicillin, tetracycline, doxycycline, and ciprofloxacin. The U.S. Military recommends using enrofloxacin at a dose of 15 to 20 mg/kg administered orally as either a single dose or divided into two doses given at 12-hour intervals. The duration of treatment should be 60 days if exposure is confirmed and discontinued if exposure did not occur. Enrofloxacin should NOT be used in immature animals because of the potential damage to developing joints. Adverse side effects of this drug appear minimal and include vomiting and loss of appetite. Do not allow autopsies to be performed except by federally approved officials, as exposure to air may allow for spore formation and dissemination.

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