| On Tuesday, May 17, the Department held a drill on Homeland Security with officers from NJ Transit's Special Operations Unit.
Lt. Mike Clarkson, Officer/Training Officer Arafat Saab and Officer Ken Batchik conducted the training. Among the topics covered were the security of the NJ Transit system, response to incidents, and spotting possible terrorist acts/suspicious activity, not only in the transit system, but also during incidents that we respond to.
Each officer works with a dog trained to dectect various types of explosives. The officers discussed how the dogs are trained and how they respond when they sense explosives. The officers showed the members their dogs and demonstrated some of their training. While the unit employs K-9s, the dogs are strictly for explosive detection, they are not patrol dogs. Each dog lives with their handler, and is part of each officers family. When retired from service they remain with their families.
After the classroom portion of the drill, the dogs were brought down to the apparatus bay, where training "hides" (actual items containing explosives or explosives residue) had been hidden earlier in the evening. The officers demonstrated how the dogs conduct a search and they were successful in finding the hides. Once the dogs detect the presence of explosive, rather than bark and paw as one might expect, they turn away and sit calmly to point out that an explosive has been located.
Finally, the officers demonstrated explosive/chemical detection equipment that they carry in their vehicles. The Special Operations team is primarily for the NJ Transit system, however they are prepared and available to respond on the municipal, county and state level as needed.
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