Dogs take a bite out of drugs

Migi ran through Robinwood last week with her nose to the ground, her handler close behind. Nearby, Nobel took off, sniffing away at the ground and buildings.

It's all in a night's work for the two drug dogs on the Annapolis Police force, and their handlers, Officer Marcus Sexton and Cpl. Justin Klinedinst.

The two energetic animals are an important part of the crime-fighting team in the city. At less than 2 years old each, they're on patrol, looking for drugs in crime-ridden areas of the city. They're the latest addition to the K-9 unit, and they were brought on to help step up drug enforcement.

The city Police Department has five dogs in the K-9 unit, which is headed by Cpl. Christian Tucker. The three other dogs are trained to perform other tasks, such as tracking for hidden criminals.

But Migi, a Belgian malinois, and Nobel, a German shepherd, were trained specifically to do drug searches and patrol. They've already learned how to pick up a human scent on objects, such as guns or knives, and eventually, they might learn other skills.

Don't tell them what they're doing is work, though. They're thrilled to do it.

When the car door opens, they jump out, excited to get going. And because they're so energetic, the handlers have their hands full keeping up with them. That type of energy is common to these breeds of dogs, and it's what makes them successful, police said.

"Finding drugs to these dogs is really a big game," Cpl. Tucker said.

The city receives the dogs after they are already trained, and then the dogs and handlers go through a three-week training in which they become a team and the handlers learn the commands. Dogs come from a variety of places, and already come with names - and native tongues of whatever language they were trained in. The drug dogs have their commands in Czech.

Police are tapping into the dogs' natural abilities. To do their jobs, it takes about 80 percent of the dog's natural instincts and 20 percent of the training, Cpl. Tucker said.

The dogs get mixed reactions in the community. Some people are welcoming of any police patrols. But criminals aren't big fans.

"We're out there trying to break up their game," Cpl. Tucker said.

Increased patrols have forced a lot of drug activity off the streets. In the past, the dogs would usually find a stash thrown into a bush or hidden behind a building, but not lately. People know that when it comes to drugs, the dog's nose knows.

"It's hard. Most of the time you come away empty-handed," Cpl. Tucker said.

Good for the city of Annapolis - bad for the dogs, who desperately want to please. Sometimes when a search is a dud, the handler will place something for a dog to find, just to boost the morale of the dog, Cpl. Tucker said.

The dogs can also scan money and other items for the presence of a drug scent. Recently, Nobel found that more than $7,000 had the odor of drugs on it, and police seized it from the person, Cpl. Klinedinst said.

The dogs are helpful during search warrant executions, too, especially in large rooms or areas, he said. Officers will search the entire area, but the dog "helps to kind of guide the officer," Cpl. Klinedinst said.

Officer Sexton said he enjoys seeing Migi perform and do what she was trained to do. Cpl. Klinedinst, who has had dogs since he was a child, said handling a dog while doing police work gives him the ability "to combine my two passions in life."

Some of the qualities that make the dogs perform well at work get them into trouble at home. Migi, for example, is a little high-strung. She's known to run circles in the back of the police cruiser. Nobel sometimes eats things if left unattended. Cpl. Klinedinst recalled one time where he went to work and left him at home - the dog ate through his crate.

"The towels were eaten, food cans were busted open," he said.

But both dogs change when they're on the job.

"She knows when it's time to come to work," Officer Sexton said. "She sees me in uniform, and she starts running in circles."

Having a police dog is not easy, Cpl. Tucker said. Trainers have to know when and where to deploy the dog, and recognize changes in the dog's behavior. The officers also have to learn to control their emotions. Anger or frustration can confuse the dog, or make the dog not perform well.

"You definitely impart your emotions on the dog," Cpl. Klinedinst said.

It takes about a year for the handler and the dog to meld into a team; something that is clear by observing the drug dogs at work. They're still testing the waters, but the bond between them is developing fast. They've been on the city streets since May.

"This is the best job in the police department," Cpl. Tucker said.