The nose knows

CELINA - It's all about the nose for area K-9 officers.

"With all the drugs out there right now, all the dogs are used frequently to find drugs in vehicles, homes, businesses. You just can't hide it from them. The minute they start sniffing the air around them, you can usually bet you've got a hit," said Celina Police Sgt. Dan Harting, who partners with Ted.

Harting said the dogs are used for several purposes, including drug detection and apprehending and tracking suspects. Their greatest assets are their noses, he added.

"He's my eyes, ears and nose," Harting said as Ted leaned on his hip. "He can sense something is about to happen before I even know it. He'd give his life for me without blinking. How many people can you say that about?"  

Ted and three other K-9 officers, all German shepherds, were training hard at the city administration building Wednesday afternoon, honing their skills for finding hidden drugs, locating a missing person or apprehending a suspect no matter where he or she hides.

Mojo, of the Coldwater Police Department; Colt, of the Shelby County Sheriff's Office; Duke, of the Sidney Police Department; and Ted never took their eyes off their human counterparts, even if they needed to squirm or wriggle to see around a door or wall.

To the dogs, finding drugs or apprehending a suspect is a big game, the officers said. Their reward - a red ball.

"They get the reward for doing a good job," Sidney Police Officer Rodney Robbins said. "All the dog wants to do is to please us. That is their life course."

All the officers said the dogs are not only their partners while on the streets but also their "guardian angels."

Celina Police Chief Tom Wale said while officers may suspect drug activity, without probable cause, they can't search a home or vehicle.

"Mere suspicion is not enough to search," Wale said. "However, a K-9 may sniff the air in an area with no need for consent to search or a search warrant."

Wale said the dogs are also a public-relations asset.

"Children and most people are naturally curious about the K-9 and his abilities and, in general, like dogs," he said. "By allowing people to get close to the dog, they also get to know the officer. They oftentimes realize the officer is another person just like they are and become less intimidated by the uniform."

All the dogs are from Germany and were trained at the Von Der Haus Gill Canine Academy near Wapakoneta. Including training for their human partner, the cost of a dog trained for police work is between $10,000 to $12,000, Harting said.

That cost includes getting the dogs state and national certifications, said Sgt. Kyle Dues, who partners with Mojo.

"We have very high standards," Dues said. "Not all states require their dogs to be trained the way we do. It takes a pretty special dog to get the certifications. They have to be an 'A' personality, have a high drive to want to work and yet be included as part of the family when their shift is over."

The group gets together several times a month to keep the dogs' skills sharp.

Robbins serves with Duke, whom he teases, because the large shepherd doesn't walk into a room, he "struts" into a room.

The pair have been working Sidney's streets for the past three years and Robbins said the dogs are "way smarter then most of us."

"He feels my vibes," Robbins said. "He knows when it's time to work and when it's time to relax, but the thing about these dogs is about all they want to do is work, work, work."

Deputy Frank Bleigh, who partners with Colt, said suspects become more cautious when a dog is involved in an investigation.

"I think most people understand you can't outrun a dog," Bleigh said as he stroked Colt's head.