July 31, 2019
These graduates may not have crammed for their history final or won class president, but they worked just as hard with their noses to earn their diplomas. With a wag and a wave, eight graduates crossed the stage after successfully completing 10 demanding weeks of training at Sea-Tac Airport to become certified under Washington State’s Canine Certification program. Three canines and their handlers will join the Port of Seattle Police Department and one team will join the Sound Transit Police Department and use their powerful sense of smell to help keep facilities, operations, and people safe.
With these graduates, Sea-Tac Airport has become the only airport in the nation with a fully-functional, self-reliant law enforcement Air Scent trained team This means they are trained to track explosives on a moving target. Traditionally trained teams are trained to search stationary objects. The Port of Seattle Police Department (POSPD) now has both disciplines which helps ensure that canines will be able to sniff down a threat, no matter where it comes from.
The four canines and their handlers worked like dogs to achieve this certification, spending 400 hours building and refining their skills. For the first time, the training was performed onsite at Sea-Tac Airport, rather than at the trainer’s base in North Carolina. This was a win-win for the canines, handlers, and the whole police department. The canines were able to train in their future work environment, needing less time to acclimate once they get started in their roles. Additional training teams working onsite provides more visibility in the airport, and resulted in more training for all 14 POSPD training teams. Handlers were also able to stay home with their families during training rather than across the country for 10 weeks of training.
A typical training day has canines and handlers working on obedience and practicing with training aids. They train in a variety of locations, including Port buses and the airport’s sky bridges, and with objects both moving and stationary, in an effort to be “consistently inconsistent” to keep the canines on their toes.
Meet the graduating class of 2019!
Canine Hemi and handler Deputy Wendy Billingsley, Sound Transit Police Department’s Explosive Detection Canine Unit
About Hemi: Hemi spends her weekends playing with her two fur-brothers Happy and Pancho, scoring lots of belly rubs, and intensely waiting for that next ball.
About Deputy Billingsley: Deputy Billingsley is a 20-year veteran of the King County Sheriff’s Office and was recently assigned to the Sound Transit Police Department. The unit comprises five handler/canine teams which are responsible for deterrence, detection and patrol services for Sound Transit properties including Light Rail and Sounder trains and stations. Canine teams also assist the King County Sheriff’s Office and local agencies with evidence and safety sweeps of outdoor spaces, buildings, vehicles, and suspicious objects.
Canine Belle and handler Port of Seattle Police Officer Clint March
About Belle: Belle was born and raised in North Carolina. Her favorite thing in the world is food, and her second is her red Kong reward after successfully doing her job. Belle has adapted to her new family quite well and loves getting attention from her three new kids at home. Belle wakes up early every morning (even on days off) excited to come to work.
About Officer March: Officer March was born and raised in Eastern Washington, and began his career in law enforcement after serving in the United States Army Infantry. He has worked as a law enforcement officer for five and a half years total, four of which were with the Federal Way Police Department and one and a half years with the Port of Seattle Police Department.
Canine Ticket and Port of Seattle Police Officer Eric Devries
About Ticket: Ticket is a two-and-a-half year old yellow lab and was born in North Carolina. When she isn’t at work, Ticket lives at home with Officer DeVries and his family. Ticket loves playing fetch and stealing strawberries from the garden.
About Officer DeVries: Officer DeVries has worked for the Port of Seattle Police Department since March 2018. He began his law enforcement career in 1997 and previously worked for the University of Washington Police Department and Tukwila Police Department. During his career, Officer DeVries held a variety of positions including Bike Officer, Civil Disturbance Unit, Marine Unit, Generalist Canine handler, and Major Crimes Detective. In May 2019, Officer DeVries was partnered with Ticket.
Canine Nash and Port of Seattle Police Officer Froylan Angeles
About Nash: Canine Nash is a two-year-old black Labrador retriever. He has been partnered with Officer Angeles since May of 2019. He is continuously training to detect explosive materials to keep the traveling public and community safe. Nash is highly motivated to do his job, but still likes to be a normal dog that plays fetch and have a treat or two when he is at home.
About Officer Angeles: Officer Angeles has been with the Port of Seattle Police Department since 2001. His primary duty since joining the department has been serving in the Patrol Unit. He has also served as an instructor in Firearms, Defensive Tactics, Taser, and Reality Based Training. He is a member of the Crowd Management Unit, which is also a part of the multi-agency Valley Civil Disturbance Unit that includes the city Police Departments of Tukwila, Renton, Kent, Federal Way, and Auburn.
Join us in congratulating these graduates! We’re looking forward to their bright future in law enforcement!
