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From everyone here at Sierra News Online, a big congratulation goes out to these good girls and boys for all their hard work during their long hours of training!

CHP Welcomes Nine New Additions to Their Canine Teams

SACRAMENTO — The California Highway Patrol (CHP) today announced the graduation and deployment of nine new canine teams. After months of intensive training, the CHP certified its newest members during a ceremony at the CHP Academy’s Canine Training Facility.

Image of Amanda Ray.

CHP Commissioner Amanda Ray.

“These nine teams are joining an already astonishing unit that serves as a vital part of the Department in protecting the public,” said CHP Commissioner Amanda Ray. “The canines have received hundreds of hours of intense training and are ready to serve and support the mission of the CHP.”

The graduates consist of eight Patrol and Narcotics Detection Canine teams and one Patrol and Explosives Detection Canine team, all of which meet the guidelines set by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training. The newest team members include two Belgian Malinois, two Dutch Shepherds, and five German Shepherds. The CHP now has a total of 53 canine teams deployed throughout the state.

Image of a police officer patting a K9 on the head.

Image by Jason Jarrach.

Each canine’s partner, or handler, is an experienced CHP officer with anywhere from three to 15 years of experience. The officers represent the CHP’s eight geographic regions of Northern, Valley, Golden Gate, Central, Southern, Border, Coastal, and Inland Division. Once deployed, the handlers will spend a minimum of eight hours every week training with their canines to ensure the highest level of peak performance by creating scenarios similar to what is experienced out in the field.

The CHP uses its canines to perform a variety of tasks, including detecting human scent, contraband, and explosives. A canine team can improve the safety and effectiveness of officers as well as save time and money. The CHP canines are also used to assist allied agencies in apprehending criminals, detecting explosives or drugs, and in locating at-risk missing persons.

The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.

Image of a German sheperd.

Image by Julie C.

California Highway Patrol Canine Fact Sheet

• Eight Patrol and Narcotics Detection Canine (PNDC) teams and one Patrol and Explosives Detection Canine (PEDC) team completed training and were certified by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) on May 13, 2022.

• The PNDC teams go through 11 intensive weeks, or 440 hours, of criminal apprehension and narcotic detection training. The PEDC teams complete 15 weeks of intensive training, or 600 hours, of criminal apprehension and explosives detection training. The canines are used to support the Department’s mission of providing Safety, Service, and Security to the people of California.

• Graduating are two Belgian Malinois (Mal-lin-wah), two Dutch Shepherds, and five German Shepherd Dogs. Two of the canines, Shei and Riva, are the only females in the class. Shei will be assigned to Central Division and Riva will be assigned to Northern Division.

• All handlers are experienced CHP officers with departmental experience ranging from 3 to 15 years. The officers represent each of the following CHP’s eight field Divisions: Northern, Valley, Golden Gate, Central, Southern, Border, Coastal, and Inland.

• The canines are trained to meet the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training canine team guidelines.

• To maintain the canine’s interest and skills at a high level for peak performance, and to expose the team to various situations likely to be encountered while working in the field, eight hours of weekly training is required throughout their career.

• Following this graduation, the CHP will have 53 total teams: 40 PNDC teams, eight PEDC teams, and five Explosives Detection Canine teams deployed throughout the state.

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