To serve and detect
It takes a special breed of officer to succeed in the Dothan’s Police Department’s K9 unit.
story and photos by Nick Stakelum
It’s human nature to form a bond of affection with animals, especially dogs, since they’re so loyal and obedient. When combined with a highly-developed sense of smell and natural aggression, a dog’s loyalty and obedience can be used as a law enforcement tool. It can be a tough on the officers emotionally though, as they have to remain close enough to their K9 partners so the dog recognizes the officer’s authority but detatched enough so they can successfully use the dog for its specific purpose on the police force – even if it means possibly sending the dogs into harm’s way.
- Officer Wozniak and his detection dog, Andor
“I tell everyone who walks in the door that this is the hardest thing you’re going to do in law enforcement,” says Dothan Police Corporal William Wozniak, the training coordinator of the DPD’s K9 officer unit. Corporal Wonziak has 20 years of combined police and military experience working patrol and detection dogs.
“Realistically for us, the dog is a tool – all he cares about is working and making me happy,” says Wozniak of his current detection dog, a two-year-old Belgian Malinois named Andor. “When we’re on a search to apprehend a suspect we’re usually chasing people who don’t have anything to lose. They’re capable of anything. If Andor dies in the line of duty because there’s a bad guy with a gun who doesn’t want to go to jail, it’s hard and tough, but Andor is doing his duty. It could happen to any of us.”
The Dothan Police Department currently has nine K9 officers with at least two on duty at all times ready to respond to high incident, high response situations like robberies in progess, assault warrants and felony arrests.
Officers take on a major responsibility when they join the K9 unit. The dogs must be at their side throughout the entire day. When it’s time to go home, the dogs go with them, usually living in their backyards with other family pets. While all the dogs selected to join the force are sociable, they’re still dangerous tools in need of constant obedience training and supervision by their handlers. “We definitely have some added responsilbility,” says Wozniak. “It’s hard to pack up for the beach on the weekend. You’ve got to make some real arrangements – You can’t just kennel these dogs. They usually stay with other handlers.”
Wozniak finds his four-legged recruits for the force at a training facility in Indiana which imports young Dutch Malinois, Belgian Malinois (pronounced “mal-en-wah”) and German Shepherds. “They’re the biggest hard-heads in the world,” says Wozniak with a chuckle, “but we use these breeds for the temperament and drive they have. Plus they handle change well if they have to work with another handler.”
While selecting his new canine recruits, Wozniak’s tests these alpha dogs to see if they can understand who’s really in charge. “If the dog shows an ounce of agression toward me when I’m testing them then he doesn’t see the city of Dothan,” Wozniak says. “I’m not going to put a less experienced handler at risk for being attacked by his own dog.
For the full story please see the Jan/Feb 2012 issue of Dothan Magazine.
Much appreciation for those who serve with such loyal and courageous companions. Thank you to the dogs and their handlers!