DPS NEWS

POST Introduction to K9 Class Featuring Nomos, Onyx and Kuli

POST Class #344 learned first-hand what it’s like to work with K9 units through the Introduction to K9 course.

Thanks to the K9 handlers and their K9 partners who conducted the training and showed the cadets the ropes!

• Davis County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Wennergren and K9 Nomos
• Lehi Police Department Sgt. Lewis and K9 Onyx
• Lehi Police Department Corporal Cullen and K9 Kuli

SPECIAL THANKS TO K9 NOMOS who spent his last working day helping to train the cadets. Congratulations on your retirement, Nomos, and thank you for your service to the people of Utah!

The class was 4-hours long and includes a classroom session, during which cadets learn the many benefits of utilizing K9s in law enforcement. class is designed to give cadets exposure to working with K9 units. The cadets then went to three different stations for simulated scenarios involving K9 units: narcotics detection, felony building search and felony traffic stop.

NARCOTICS DETECTION

Lehi Police Department Corporal Cullen and his K9 Kuli demonstrated drug detection for the cadets. Corporal Cullen discussed what the cadets would see when K9 Kuli exhibited change of behavior, interest, and final response or indication. There were two hides on adjacent vehicles and on Corporal Cullen’s command, Kuli searched each one and indicated on the hides.

Kuli is trained for dual purpose – patrol and narcotics detection – but he showed his softer side to the cadets.

FELONY BUILDING SEARCH

Davis County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Wennergren and her K9 Nomos ran through felony building search scenarios with the cadets. She discussed protocol for assisting with removal of the K9 and apprehension of the suspect.

Cadets from each group put on a bite suit and then stationed themselves in rooms that POST uses for various scenarios. They were out of Nomos’ sight but he quickly found them.

FELONY TRAFFIC STOP

Lehi Police Department Sgt. Lewis and his K9 Onyx ran the cadets through felony traffic stop scenarios.

After cadets in the bite suits ignored Sgt. Lewis’ calls to exit the vehicle, he sent K9 Onyx in to “encourage” the cadet suspect to exit the vehicle.

The cadets completed the course with a greater understanding of the benefits that K9 units provide to law enforcement agencies and how to more effectively work with them in the field.

Read about and watch a video from a previous session of the Introduction to K9 Class, which also included yard-to-yard and search and rescue scenarios here: https://dpsnews.utah.gov/post-conducts-introduction-to-k9-course/