TSA and Port of Seattle Police K-9s and handlers
SEATTLE – August is the busiest travel month at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Port of Seattle are working together to use a key asset to keep passengers safe and secure: K-9s specially trained to detect explosives and explosive components.
The TSA projects that it will screen approximately 2 million departing passengers in August at Sea-Tac Airport, the most ever in a single month and 7 percent more than last August. TSA officers at Sea-Tac Airport have screened an average of 61,000 people per day in July and are expected to screen an average of 63,000 people per day in August.
TSA expects the busiest days at the Sea-Tac Airport security checkpoints to be Sundays and Mondays and again Thursdays and Fridays, with peak times projected to be 4 a.m. to noonand 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The Port of Seattle estimates that total Sea-Tac Airport daily passenger traffic (including outbound, inbound and connecting) is projected to reach 160,000 during busy August days.
Nationwide this summer, TSA has screened an average of 2.3 million passengers per day at 440 airports. Since May 30, 2017, which coincided with the kickoff of the summer travel season, TSA has screened nearly 130 million passengers.
TSA Passenger Screening K-9s
TSA’s use of Passenger Screening K-9s will significantly assist TSA in the efficiency of its screening process. K-9s are trained to work in a busy transportation environment, using their keen sense of smell when working around travelers. Passengers departing Sea-Tac can expect to see K-9s working in the security checkpoint, making some travelers eligible for TSA PreCheck and expedited screening.
Handlers are trained to read the dog’s behavior when it indicates an explosive scent has been detected, often without the source being aware and even if the source is mobile. K-9s are able to navigate among large groups of people to pinpoint the source of the odor.
K-9s are tethered to their handlers and work in close proximity to passengers. A handler is trained to read the dog’s behavior when it indicates an explosive scent has been detected. If a dog alerts its handler to something suspicious, there is an established procedure in place to resolve the alarm.
Port of Seattle K-9s
The Port of Seattle has a dedicated K-9 team which primarily works in the ticketing areas of Sea-Tac Airport. Additionally, Port K-9s work the Seattle waterfront, supporting cruise ship operations. Recently, the department welcomed three new dogs to bring the total number of K-9s to 11.
Like TSA, the Port’s pups have the speed and flexibility in discovering the presence of explosives and their ability to follow suspicious odors to pinpoint exact locations give them an edge over currently available mechanical detection devices in many circumstances.
The Port of Seattle’s K-9s have also performed duty at high profile events outside of Seattle, including Super Bowl 50 in Santa Clara, Calif. and recent presidential inaugural events in Washington, D.C.
Layers of Security
TSA uses layers of security – both seen and unseen by the public – in coordination with airport security operations to protect passengers and the nation’s transportation system. These specially-trained K-9s are an effective tool in detecting concealed explosives, which are known to be the greatest threat to the aviation system.
TSA and Port of Seattle explosive detection K-9 teams completed 12 weeks of intensive training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. Teams are regularly tested and must maintain certification.
Working K-9s should not be petted or fed by anyone except their handlers. Nationwide, TSA has nearly 1,000 explosive detection K-9 teams working at airports, mass transit facilities and maritime locations.
Three TSA K-9s and handlers are featured in above photo are:
Mala is a two-year-old German Shorthaired Pointer. She loves to play fetch and has an interest in ornithology. Mala has been working with her handler for four months. She lives with a 10-year-old retiree from the TSA canine program, Ben, a yellow Labrador. Mala's handler is Tracey who has been with the canine program since 2010 and with TSA since 2002.
Rex, a two-year-old German Shorthaired Pointer, loves to have his picture taken. One of Rex's pictures currently has over 8,400 likes on a Facebook page for dog spotting. He has been with TSA for about seven months. His handler is Brian, who spent 15 years in law enforcement before joining the TSA in July 2016.
Roki (Y247) is a 2 1/2 year old German Shorthaired Pointer. He and his handler Chris have been together since January 2017. Roki is very enthusiastic and loves his job. On his days off, he likes to play fetch and lounge on the couch. Roki loves his job so much that he wakes his handler up every day at 2 a.m. to make sure they get an early start.
Three Port of Seattle K-9s and handlers in the above photo are:
Ty and Sgt. Minnehan are one of the first Air Scent Law Enforcement teams in Washington. K-9 Ty enjoys keeping the public safe and can be seen working hard at Sea-Tac Airport. He has an abundance of energy and when he is not burning off his energy at work, he enjoys swimming with his furry brothers. Make sure to send him birthday wishes soon, Ty was born on Sept. 18, 2016.
Milo is a 7 year old black English Lab and is a federally certified explosives detection K-9. He received his initial training at Lackland Air Force base in San Antonio, Texas. Milo has been assigned to his handler Officer Lewis since 2012 and works at both Sea-Tac Airport and along Seattle’s seaport.
Enka is a German Shorthaired Pointer who will turn two in October. She and her handler Ofc. Heslin, just returned from initial training five weeks ago and are preparing their certification process in a couple of weeks. She lives with Ofc. Heslin and his family and has adjusted well. When she’s not working she enjoys running circles around their 7 month old German shepherd in the backyard. When at work Enka is obsessed with her tennis ball on a rope. Ofc. Heslin has been with POSPD for more than 12 years and has just recently joined the K-9 unit.
About the TSA
The Transportation Security Administration was created to strengthen the security of the nation’s transportation systems and ensure the freedom of movement for people and commerce. TSA uses a risk-based strategy and works closely with the transportation, law enforcement and intelligence community to set the standard for excellence in transportation security. For more information about TSA, please visit our website at tsa.gov.
About Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
Operated by the Port of Seattle, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA, KSEA) is ranked as the 9th busiest U.S. airport, serving nearly 45.7 million passengers and more than 366,000 metric tons of air cargo in 2016. With a regional economic impact of more than $16.3 billion in business revenue, Sea-Tac generates 171,796 jobs (109,924 direct jobs) representing over $2.8 billion in direct earnings and more than $565 million in state and local taxes. Twenty-four airlines serve 81 non-stop domestic and 24 international destinations.
