The New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services today announced that nearly fifty explosive detection canine teams from across the state, nation and federal government participated in scenario-based training this week at the inaugural ‘Canine Week’ exercise at the State Preparedness Training Center in Oriskany. The first-time event helped canine teams practice their response to a variety of real-world scenarios involving explosives and explosive devices. Canine Week began on June 11 and concludes on June 14.

“Explosive detection canine teams and their specialized skill set play a vital role in responding to and resolving some of the most dangerous threats faced by law enforcement,” said Acting New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Patrick A. Murphy. “This week’s exercise gives these teams an opportunity to test their capabilities through advanced, innovative training exercises by utilizing the numerous features of New York’s world-class State Preparedness Training Center.”

New York’s more than 300 law enforcement explosive detection canine teams play a critical role in protecting public safety as they are primarily responsible for conducting searches for explosive materials near building exteriors, parking lots, office areas, vehicles, and critical infrastructure sites, as well as mass gathering events.  Many of the canines participating in Canine Week also serve in dual-purpose roles by providing detection capabilities and protection for officers on patrol.

During the exercise, canine teams responded to a series of complex and evolving incidents to test their capabilities. The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, which developed and managed ‘Canine Week,’ modeled scenarios after real-world incidents that canine teams encounter, including operating out of a helicopter during an emergency response, integrating with tactical teams during complex service calls, detecting explosives in a maritime environment and dignitary protection details. Teams also practiced their skills to provide emergency care to injured canines during the week.  

New York State law enforcement agencies participating (some with multiple teams):

Albany County Sheriff’s Office

Buffalo Police Department

Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office

Erie County Sheriff’s Office

Monroe County Sheriff’s Office

Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Department

New York City Police Department (Transit Bureau and Counterterrorism Response Command)

New York State Police

Niagara County Sheriff’s Office

Ontario County Sheriff’s Office

Putnam County Sheriff’s Office

Rochester Police Department

Suffolk County Police Department

Town of Saugerties Police Department

Utica Police Department

Westchester County Police Department

Additional Participating Partners:

Camden County Sheriff’s Office (Georgia)

Connecticut State Police

Norwalk Police Department (Connecticut)

Transportation Security Administration

United States Coast Guard

“Training is a key component to a success in any specialized unit, especially canine, said Albany County Sheriff Craig D. Apple Sr. “The State Preparedness Training Center allows our canines to get the most hands-on explosives training, preparing for any possible attacks we could face in Albany County. This year our canines will train with maritime and aviation components, which you will not find anywhere in the state of New York.  There are so many positive aspects to this training, including the working relationships with other departments in which they may be deployed on explosive call-outs with.”

“The MTA Police Department is honored to actively support the first “Canine Week” at the State Preparedness Training Center,” said Chief Owen Monaghan of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Department.  “Explosive detection canine teams are a critical component of terrorism prevention activities in mass transit systems, at critical infrastructure sites and during mass gathering events.  The threat environment is always evolving, and we need to ensure that our canine teams constantly train to meet these new challenges.” 

"The opportunity to partner and train with explosive detection K9 and handler teams across this state is crucial in case of a large-scale event" said Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Sheriff Todd K. Baxter.  "With the new training techniques our MCSO K9 Unit will acquire during the scenario-based trainings, we will be better prepared to anticipate and manage impending threats."

Since 2009, the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services has allocated approximately $19.9 million in federal homeland security grant funding to support the state’s FBI-accredited bomb squads and explosive detection canine teams. Additionally, the Division has provided $11.2 million in funding to support the state’s tactical teams since 2013.

About the State Preparedness Training Center

The State Preparedness Training Center operated by the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, affords state, local, and federal agencies a complex of training venues to conduct the entire spectrum of training. From classroom lectures and discussions to reality- and high-performance scenario-based training, the SPTC offers opportunities for dynamic emergency first responder training. The SPTC offers agencies realistic training environments such as a simulated city, residential housing complex, collapsed building rubble pile, woodland structures and other settings. Now in its 13th year of operation, the SPTC annually trains thousands of New York’s first responders, including law enforcement, emergency medical services, and emergency management personnel, in a variety of areas including response to active shooter events, emergency vehicle operations, EMS special situations, and patrol officer survival.

About the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services

The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services provides leadership, coordination and support for efforts to prevent, protect against, prepare for, respond to, and recover from terrorism and other man-made and natural disasters, threats, fires and other emergencies. For more information, visit the Division’s Facebook page, follow @NYSDHSES on Twitter, or visit dhses.ny.gov.

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