Finn, a 15-month-old Labrador, joins the Carroll Police Department

Finn, a 15-month-old Labrador Retriever, is Carroll County’s newest police officer. He will work under the supervision of Deputy First Class Kyle Hessler, 30, in the sheriff’s office.

Of the six dogs that work for the sheriff’s office, Finn is the only one trained to detect explosive compounds, while the others specialize in detecting narcotics and narcotics, Hessler said. Each of the six dogs is also trained to track.

“Finn’s behavior and personality are like any normal Labrador that one comes into contact with as a family pet,” said Lt. Dustin Boone, Carroll’s K-9 administrator, “so very loving, very genuine, he definitely loves his handler.” You can tell they have an incredible bond with each other, and that’s crucial when it comes to the workability and the Work on detecting explosives in dogs is possible.”

Hessler and Finn work daily shifts at Carroll County courthouses and conduct regular scans of court and government facilities. The duo are always on call should the need arise to investigate anything suspicious and will work to ensure that all events in the county are protected from any explosive threat.

“They do sporadic, strategic scans of the courthouse and surrounding buildings and facilities every day,” Boone said, “so every day they do something different and check different areas.”

Occasionally, residents spot a discarded grenade or realistic toy that resembles an explosive, and an explosives detection dog needs to be able to determine what it is. Boone said the department receives about 10 to 15 explosives calls per year. The numbers are generally higher during graduation season and election years.

Finn was trained to alert Hessler to the presence of explosives by sitting down and putting his nose to the package, Boone said.

“It’s very proactive to have an explosives dog,” Hessler said, “rather than letting it happen. Then you reach out to other agencies and hope they have an explosives dog available.”

Training a dog to detect explosives is more rigorous than training a dog to detect drugs, as Finn is trained to detect 18 explosives, including dynamite, black powder and nitrates. The dog and handler will be trained next month to recognize four more compounds, Hessler said. The final training covers highly volatile compounds and is monitored by the FBI.

A drug detection dog is typically trained to detect about four substances, Boone said, often including methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin.

“My training was just a little different than drug training,” Hessler said, “because (the dog) is trained to so many different smells, it’s a longer process.”

Adding Finn to the force cost the county $16,800, Boone said, including six weeks of training. The county hired Iron Rose K9 to obtain the dog from Washington state.

The department recently added a drug detection dog for a total of $13,000. Boone said it costs $10,800 annually to maintain certifications for six dogs and handlers. In total, the unit completes approximately 1,600 hours of training each year, including monthly training and annual recertifications.

Although Carroll County has always had an explosives detection dog, Finn will be the first in at least several decades to also be trained and certified in detection dog training, Hessler said.

“He is the first explosive dog certified for tracking, which is extremely important,” Hessler said. “Whether it’s a missing person or a criminal suspect, since I’m assigned to the courthouse and work the day shift Monday through Friday, I can be available to search at any time.”

Although the other dogs are trained for tracking, at the time when tracking is most needed, a dog may be performing other tasks, such as scanning for drugs, Hessler said.

“It’s very good that it’s suitable for tracking,” Hessler said, “because it’s just an asset that’s readily available.”

Hessler said he passed a physical test, an interview and a home inspection before beginning handler training. The handler was appointed to the position to replace the retired explosive detection dog handler who served in the role for more than 20 years.

Hessler is well suited to the role of K-9 handler because he has good communication skills, judgment, reliability and a willingness to go above and beyond, Boone said.

Hessler served as a field artilleryman in the U.S. Army for six years, retiring as a staff sergeant before serving two years as a patrol officer for the Baltimore City Police, followed by a lateral move to Carroll in March 2021. He said he has his Experience in the Army sparked his passion for explosives prevention.

“I was able to visually see a lot of explosives,” Hessler said, “that’s when my passion came out when the explosives position came out, because I saw the devastating effects of improvised explosive devices and so on.”

Finn has been living with his handler since September 23rd. Hessler said Finn was a high-energy dog ​​with no prior training but very high intelligence and a strong drive to work. Dogs that are eager to please and good at games like fetch make excellent police dogs.

“My wife loves him,” said Hessler, “he’s a very family-oriented dog. When we are at work, he knows we are at work; When we’re home he knows how to turn it off and he’s just cuddly. He is a very good dog at home. My son loves him. My son calls him ‘Finny-Boy,’ and my son helps him throw the ball and make sure he’s taken care of.”

In addition to getting along well with Hessler’s 3-year-old son, Finn also gets along well with Major, Hessler’s 7-year-old chow chow. Hessler said Finn is already modeling good behavior for the stubborn, older dog and is helping Major become more obedient.

Hessler said Finn has been integrated into his daily routine, including plenty of opportunities for exercise and training refreshers. The handler uses training aids that Finn rewards for finding to keep him fit.

About four years ago, the county sheriff’s office expanded its K-9 unit to six dogs and their handlers as law enforcement changed, Boone said. Although that number was thought to be ideal for Carroll County because a drug and detection dog can be available 24 hours a day, officials are considering adding a seventh dog.

The sheriff’s office is in the early stages of studying what it might look like to add a dog that specializes in detecting person-carried explosives, Boone said. Such a dog would be specialized in alerting officers to the presence of explosive compounds on a person’s body, particularly useful when a suspect is moving in a large crowd.

The philosophy that such a designation for dogs should be included in a police force has become increasingly common, according to Boone, and the Maryland Police Department has adopted such a designation. Having such a dog in the house would ensure coverage of major events in Carroll County, he added.

Do you have a news tip? Contact Thomas Goodwin Smith at [email protected].