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| What is Shadow trained for? |
| About Shadow's Training |
K-9 TRAINING METHODS AND PROCEDURES
K-9: Shadow Agency: Longmont Fire Handler: Mike Manzo
Shadow is an Accelerant-Detection K9 certified by the Maine State Police to detect trace
amounts of hydrocarbon-based compounds. He was originally trained under the supervision
of Mr. Paul Gallagher, in cooperation with State Farm Insurance Company. State Farm
provided a scholarship, which enabled Investigator Mike Manzo of the Longmont Fire
Department to travel to Maine to train with Mr. Gallagher. Investigator Manzo and Shadow
became certified as a team in May of 2002. They will attend courses yearly to keep their
certification current. Investigator Manzo certified as a K-9 handler in April 1999.
Shadow’s training is maintained daily by means of the “food-reward” system. He is allowed to
eat only when he detects an accelerant, and he is exclusively hand fed. Investigator Manzo
ensures that he meets his daily food requirements by providing a variety of exercises. Each
drill is designed to challenge the K9 to find trace amounts of accelerant. On average, Shadow
performs these tasks at least three times per day. Shadow is also trained several times per
week with “scent discrimination” drills. This involves using materials commonly found in a fire
scene, such as plastic, wood, carpet and padding, etc. Each item is placed in a separate
container and burned. A container with a small drop of 50%-evaporated gasoline is added to
the grouping. Shadow will then search all of the containers, alerting only upon the evaporated
gasoline. Shadow must perform with 100% accuracy in training. This helps eliminate any false
indications in a fire scene. Each training session is documented in detail, and reviewed by Mr.
Gallagher.
Upon detecting an accelerant, Shadow will sit down and point to the area with his nose. This is
known as a “passive alert”. He does not bark, scratch or bite, which could inadvertently
disrupt the area. Once he has alerted, or “hit” on an area, Investigator Manzo will feed him,
then mark the area for subsequent sample collection. Once the samples have been obtained,
they are placed in an uncontaminated area, whereupon Shadow will reconfirm each one. If
any samples are determined to be negative, additional samples will be collected from the area,
and the process will be repeated. The confirmed samples are then sealed and sent to a
qualified laboratory for analysis.
When searching a fire scene, Investigator Manzo will evaluate the safety of the area before
allowing Shadow to enter. Once this has been completed, he will lead Shadow through the
scene, in an effort to acclimate him to the environment. Once he has become familiarized with
the area, the initial search will commence. Typically, the search is started in the interior, near
a door opening. Investigator Manzo will first lead Shadow in a clockwise pattern around the
perimeter of the area. He will then follow up with a counter-clockwise search of the remaining
area. Outside searches of the surrounding areas are also routinely performed. Shadow is
also trained to search vehicles, suspects, clothing, and a variety of other items.
For more information or to dispatch the K-9 team, please call the Longmont Fire
Department Dispatch at (303)651-8501 and have them send a page to Mike. Pager #2028
K-9: Shadow Agency: Longmont Fire Handler: Mike Manzo
Shadow is an Accelerant-Detection K9 certified by the Maine State Police to detect trace
amounts of hydrocarbon-based compounds. He was originally trained under the supervision
of Mr. Paul Gallagher, in cooperation with State Farm Insurance Company. State Farm
provided a scholarship, which enabled Investigator Mike Manzo of the Longmont Fire
Department to travel to Maine to train with Mr. Gallagher. Investigator Manzo and Shadow
became certified as a team in May of 2002. They will attend courses yearly to keep their
certification current. Investigator Manzo certified as a K-9 handler in April 1999.
Shadow’s training is maintained daily by means of the “food-reward” system. He is allowed to
eat only when he detects an accelerant, and he is exclusively hand fed. Investigator Manzo
ensures that he meets his daily food requirements by providing a variety of exercises. Each
drill is designed to challenge the K9 to find trace amounts of accelerant. On average, Shadow
performs these tasks at least three times per day. Shadow is also trained several times per
week with “scent discrimination” drills. This involves using materials commonly found in a fire
scene, such as plastic, wood, carpet and padding, etc. Each item is placed in a separate
container and burned. A container with a small drop of 50%-evaporated gasoline is added to
the grouping. Shadow will then search all of the containers, alerting only upon the evaporated
gasoline. Shadow must perform with 100% accuracy in training. This helps eliminate any false
indications in a fire scene. Each training session is documented in detail, and reviewed by Mr.
Gallagher.
Upon detecting an accelerant, Shadow will sit down and point to the area with his nose. This is
known as a “passive alert”. He does not bark, scratch or bite, which could inadvertently
disrupt the area. Once he has alerted, or “hit” on an area, Investigator Manzo will feed him,
then mark the area for subsequent sample collection. Once the samples have been obtained,
they are placed in an uncontaminated area, whereupon Shadow will reconfirm each one. If
any samples are determined to be negative, additional samples will be collected from the area,
and the process will be repeated. The confirmed samples are then sealed and sent to a
qualified laboratory for analysis.
When searching a fire scene, Investigator Manzo will evaluate the safety of the area before
allowing Shadow to enter. Once this has been completed, he will lead Shadow through the
scene, in an effort to acclimate him to the environment. Once he has become familiarized with
the area, the initial search will commence. Typically, the search is started in the interior, near
a door opening. Investigator Manzo will first lead Shadow in a clockwise pattern around the
perimeter of the area. He will then follow up with a counter-clockwise search of the remaining
area. Outside searches of the surrounding areas are also routinely performed. Shadow is
also trained to search vehicles, suspects, clothing, and a variety of other items.
For more information or to dispatch the K-9 team, please call the Longmont Fire
Department Dispatch at (303)651-8501 and have them send a page to Mike. Pager #2028