The new teams are Officer Catarina Ruchti and her dog Charlie and Officer Chris Baughman and his dog Bosley. Both dogs are Labradors and were bred at the TSA Puppy Program, in San Antonio, Texas, to serve in the National Explosives Detection Canine Team Program.
''These new teams will join the two already in place here as another strong layer of security at Port Columbus,'' said Tom Rice, TSA's Federal Security Director in Columbus. ''The mobility and skill of these well-trained animals make them the most reliable and effective tool we have to detect explosives.''
The TSA National Explosives Detection Canine Team Program is a cooperative partnership with participating airports. TSA pays to train the canine, provides in-depth training for the handler, and partially reimburses the participating agency for costs associated with the teams, such as salaries, overtime, canine food and veterinary care.
''The canine units provide an additional dimension of security for the 6.2 million passengers traveling through Port Columbus annually,'' said CRAA President & CEO Elaine Roberts. ''The Airport Authority is privileged to partner with TSA in this endeavor and we very much appreciate TSAs supportive role with the dogs and their handlers.''
During training, officers were provided instruction on handler skills, explosives safety, and safe handling and accountability of explosives canine training aids. They spent much of their time searching for explosives in specialized indoor and outdoor training areas that resemble the airport environment, including aircraft searches where teams check cockpits, cabins, and overhead storage bins. The teams also practice searching warehouses, luggage and a parking lot filled with cars, trucks, vans and buses.
For the past few weeks, Bosley and Charlie worked with their handlers to become acclimated to the airport. The teams undergo several hours of proficiency training each week encountering all the odors and distractions associated with a busy airport. To ensure these teams stay sharp, they are certified annually - a four-to-eight day process designed to demonstrate they meet TSA's stringent standards.
Because canine teams combine excellent mobility with reliable detection rates, their use has evolved to include searching areas in response to bomb threats associated with airport terminals and aircraft, luggage, cargo and vehicles, as well as serving as a proven deterrent to would-be terrorists or criminals.
