Metro News Release

For immediate release: December 29, 2004

Canines near completion of Explosive detection Training with Metro Transit Police Department

The Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD) has acquired three new dogs for its Explosive Ordnance Detection (EOD) unit and has been training them to detect explosive materials in a variety of environments, including Metrorail trains and Metrobuses.

During the training course, the dogs learn to identify 21 odors that could indicate the presence of explosives. The training exercises take place throughout the Metro system including Metrorail stations, trains, buses, rail yards and bus garages to get the dogs accustomed to working inside buildings and outdoors, walking on escalators, coping with crowds, and entering and exiting trains and buses.

The 11-week training session started October 25 and will run through January 7 when the dogs are scheduled to graduate.

Once they graduate, the K-9 units will be called upon to conduct routine sweeps of Metrorail stations and other Metro facilities, as well as respond to specific incidents.

Metro’s new dogs include a black labrador, yellow labrador and golden retriever. The dogs are two-years-old or younger and were donated to the police department by area animal shelters. The dogs’ handlers all have previous experience with police dogs.

In addition to the Transit Police K-9s, two dogs and officers from the Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Office also have been participating in the explosive detection training course.

News release issued on December 29, 2004.