Wednesday, January 17, 2018 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon 5
K9-unit handlers committed to their dogs
By Jodi Schneider
Correspondent
They are loyal and com-
mitted officers of a police
force. They are highly
trained, intelligent, and truly
dedicated. They are the four-
legged officers of the K-9
unit, and whether they are
searching for missing chil-
dren or sniffing out suspi-
cious packages, they are part
of a long-lived tradition that
extends back thousands of
years.
The Deschutes County
Sheriff’s Office has four K-9
teams that are assigned to
the patrol division. There are
three tracking and apprehen-
sion teams and one narcotics
detection team. K-9 teams are
on call 24 hours a day.
The dogs have been
trained extensively overseas,
imported, and then hand-
selected by the Deschutes
County Sheriff’s Office.
Lieutenant Mike Biondi, a
24-year veteran with DCSO,
heads up the K-9 unit.
“Our dogs are from
Europe,” Biondi told The
Nugget. “They’re bred there
for police work.”
Each new dog goes
through months of training
before he is ready to be sent
over here for more training by
his new handler.
The deputies and their
canine partners share a com-
plex language. K-9 com-
mands are often given in
Czech or Dutch.
“It is quite a culture shock
to our K-9s that come over to
begin a brand-new life with
people talking a different lan-
guage than they are used to.
Even the smells are different,”
Biondi said. “It’s a big change
for these dogs and it can take
them up to a full year to get
acclimated and bond with
their handler. They are trying
to figure out what our expec-
tations of them are.”
Typically, K-9s are hid-
den away from the public
spotlight. Sometimes you can
glimpse them in the back of
their handlers’ vehicles, when
they are needed during trying
times. Within seconds, Masa,
Ezel, Brolo or Molly could be
at their partner’s side ready
for any situation.
The role is not easy for
K-9 or handler. Law enforce-
ment K-9s have been injured,
shot and killed on duty. It
really takes a special indi-
vidual to become a K-9 han-
dler. It’s more complex than
chasing bad guys, or sniffing
out narcotics. Daily training
is important. Communication
is essential, and bonding is
everything.
And it doesn’t end after
48 hours a week on the job.
These hard-working K-9s live
with their handlers.
Biondi had the unique
experience of working and
living with his own K-9 patrol
dog from 2000 to 2006. Hugo,
a 100-pound Czech shepherd,
was always by his side.
“I spent more time with
Hugo than I did anyone else,
including my family,” Biondi
said. “We had a lot of play
time and really tried to keep
the interaction light and fun
when we were off duty. It’s a
change and a big commitment
because this new dog in your
life affects the whole family.
Your K-9 is a 24-7 commit-
ment. I’ve never had a stron-
ger bond.”
As enjoyable as it is for the
family to have a patrol dog
around the house, it’s the dep-
uty’s responsibility to make
sure his dog stays sharp
On their four days off
Biondi trained Hugo to keep
him ready for action.
“We go with the three
T’s,” said Biondi. “Teach,
Train, Test. You show them
what to do, and the train-
ing part is when they’re up
and running and
doing well. Then
the testing part
comes in when
you try to get
them to do some-
thing incorrect to
make sure they
are focused and
not distracted. Its
a lot of time spent
together.”
There is also
weekly training,
and these train-
ing exercises
involve the han-
PHOTO PROVIDED
dlers reviewing
commands with Deputy Bartness and Masa. The partnership
his dog. Once the between officer and dog is a close one.
four-hour training is wrapped the very beginning. When I
up, it’s back on the job for picked her up from the ken-
both the dog and his handler.
nel, she put her paw through
The newest and young- the fencing for me to pet her.
est patrol K-9 is Masa, an
“Masa’s playful, loving,
18-month-old Czech shep- and affectionate. But when
herd from Slovakia. Her han- it’s time to work, she is very
dler, Deputy Ben Bartness, strong, focused, controlled,
has been with the Deschutes and confident. She loves her
County Sheriff’s Office for job.”
seven years.
Masa is slowly build-
“My priority is spending ing bonds with her handler’s
time with Masa,” Bartness family: his wife, Alyson;
said. “I play, train, and relax his daughter; 12-year-old
with her every day. Relaxing chihuahua; and 7-year-old
consists of loving on her, doberman.
brushing her, petting her,
“I hope to continue to build
and just hanging out. Masa the strong bond we already
was friendly and social from share,” said Bartness.
