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Teamwork | Meet Our K-9 Officers
The Airports Authority Police Department has 11 K-9 teams assigned to the Explosive Detection Canine Unit . After selection to the unit , corporals attend the Transportation Security Administration ’ s National Explosive Detection Canine Handler Course , taught at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio , Texas .
During this 10-week training course , officers are paired with an explosive detection canine partner and work in concert through a variety of training scenarios . These scenarios include the search of luggage , vehicles , terminal , cargo and aircraft .
Upon successful completion , handlers return to Reagan National and Dulles International airports with their newly assigned canine partner for additional acclimation training in an airport environment . K-9 teams are re-certified by the Transportation Security Administration on an annual basis .
Tiller Brings Calm to Stressful Days
Tiller , a 2-year-old Labrador-golden retriever mix , is a facility dog trained to provide psychological and emotional health benefits to groups and individuals experiencing stress , anxiety or trauma . The Peer Support Team and Tiller ’ s primary handler , Lt . Tim Blayman , use Tiller to assist staff during day-to-day work events , after critical incident responses , for mental health assistance and in stress debriefings for officers who have covered a traumatic event , injury or death on the job .
Before bringing Tiller to the Airport ’ s Authority , Blayman and Tiller had to complete two weeks of training at Mutts With A Mission in Virginia Beach , Virginia . Mutts With A Mission , led by director Brooke Corson , raises and trains canines to become assistance dogs , international-certified service dogs and facility dogs . These dogs assist disabled veterans , first responders and law enforcement .
Facility dogs like Tiller complete the same rigorous training program as service dogs , but instead of helping just one individual , facility dogs help groups of people . Many police departments in Virginia , including the Town of Herndon Police Department , the New Market Police Department and the Roanoke Police Department , have added facility dogs over the past few years . A Mutts With A Mission-trained dog joined the crew of the U . S . S . Gerald R . Ford aircraft carrier this year , making history as the first expanded operational stress control dog to be placed into service on a U . S . Navy ship .
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