4 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g <strong>Monday</strong> <strong>27th</strong> <strong>February</strong> <strong>2017</strong> Police to deploy canine unit By Everton Barnes Some seventeen police and customs officers have just completed an eight-week course in canine (dog) handling techniques in preparation for being deployed at the country’s main port of entry, the V.C. Bird International Airport. The course concluded on Friday with an awards ceremony where Cons. Bradley Titre received the award for the most understanding student. Commissioner Wendel Robinson congratulated the government for investing half a million dollars into the creation of this unit. Nine dogs were part of the training with The manager of the Counter Narcotics Operational Team in the Office of National Drug and Money Laundering Control Policy (ONDCP) in Antigua and Barbuda, Marcia Edwards, is traveling to the United States to participate in the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). She will take part in a three-week project on “Community Responsiveness — Leadership in Law Enforcement” from <strong>February</strong> 27 until March 17. During the program, participants will meet police administrators and trainers, civil rights and community activists, victim advocacy groups, and police union representatives to explore issues affecting community and police relations. They will examine U.S. local, state, and federal efforts to foster two officers working with one dog. The training was conducted by a team of British experts in dog handling surveillance and patrol. The commissioner cautioned the officers that one of the requirements of being part of the unit is that they must subject themselves to a polygraph test, which he said would be performed in due course. Comptroller of Customs, Raju Boddu, expressed appreciation to the commissioner for inviting his department to be a part of this joint venture and implement community policing in police departments; explore best practices in building trust and transparency between communities and police departments; demonstrate the variety of current training and the organizational structures of local police departments; and demonstrate how community input has made an impact. The program begins on <strong>February</strong> 27 in Washington, D.C., and includes travel to at least four cities across the United States, including Baltimore, Maryland; Seattle, Washington, Orlando, Florida; and Reno, Nevada. It ends in New York City, New York. The IVLP is the Department of State’s premier, professional exchange program. The program brings together emerging leaders in their respective professions to learn how U.S. experts in crime solving and law enforcement. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Legal Affairs, Worthene George expressed best wishes to the officers asking that the take to heart all that was imparted as part of the training and to do their jobs diligently and professionally. Of the nine dogs that have been trained, two will be allocated to help deal with potential bomb threats by sniffing out explosives. The new canine unit is expected to be deployed at the airport this week. It will monitor arriving and departing passengers and bags entering the airport terminal. Antiguan law enforcement manager to participate in US government-sponsored leadership program Marcia Edwards (left), poses with U.S. Ambassador to Barbados, the Eastern <strong>Caribbean</strong>, and the OECS Linda Taglialatela before departing on the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program. in that profession operate and to share best practices with the other program candidates who hail from the same region and across the globe.
<strong>Monday</strong> <strong>27th</strong> <strong>February</strong> <strong>2017</strong> c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g 5