Bomb-Sniffing Dogs Report For Duty At MTA Police Graduation

NEW YORK, NY — New York City's newest canine protectors are reporting for duty. Thirteen dogs graduated from explosive detection and anti-terrorism training Wednesday and will become full-time members of the MTA Police Department, the MTA announced.

The dogs — most of which are German Shepherds or German and Belgian Shepherd mixes — were awarded their badges during a ceremony held in Grand Central Terminal. The new recruits are the best of the best, the MTA said, only one in 30 dogs are skilled enough to pass the intense training.

Training includes a 12-week explosive detection course at the MTA's facility in Dutchess County, New York, the MTA said. The 72-acre facility is the only mass transit specific training center in the nation. While at training camp, the dogs trained in both indoor and outdoor facilities as well as obstacle courses, according to the MTA.

Eleven of the new canine officers will patrol MTA systems such as the Long Island Rail Road, Metro North Railroad and the many bridges and tunnels operated by the transit agency. Two of the dogs will go to work for the United States Park Police and the Peekskill Police Department, which are partner agencies of the MTA Police Department.

The MTA Police Department has about 50 dogs in its service and was created in 2002, according to the transit agency.

"In our post 9/11 world, the MTA PD canine unit is crucial to our counter-terrorism efforts and keeping the public safe," MTA Chief of Police Owen Monaghan said in a statement. "24 hours a day, seven days a week, canine officer teams maintain a watchful presence over the MTA’s entire system, patrolling our stations, platforms, trains and parking lots. Last year alone, the unit responded to over 25,000 calls for service and cleared 4,015 unattended packages.”"

All of the new canine officers are named in honor of fallen police officers, firefighters and United States military members.

Meet the city's newest canine protectors (info courtesy MTA):

• Canine KD, named in honor of FDNY Lieutenant Kevin Donnelly, killed responding to the World Trade Center site on 9/11. KD’s partner is MTA PD Sergeant James Chirillo;
• Canine Deuces, named in honor of Poughkeepsie Police Department Detective John Falcone, shot and killed in 2011 when he attempted to subdue a murder suspect. Deuces’ partner is MTA PD Sergeant Edward O’Flaherty;
• Canine Lemm, named in honor of NYPD Detective and Air National Guard Staff Sergeant Joseph Lemm, killed by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan in 2015. Lemm’s partner is MTAP PD Officer Matthew Fontana;
• Canine Shaunee, named in honor of United States Coast Guard 3rd Class Maritime Enforcement Specialist Shaun Lin, who drowned in a training exercise in Drowning, Virginia in 2010. Shaunee’s partner is MTA PD Officer Daniel Gambrell;
• Canine Willie, named in honor of NYPD Officer William Rivera, who died in 2004 when he fell from a Brooklyn rooftop in pursuit of a suspect. Willie’s partner is MTA PD Officer Giselle Gil;
• Canine Joey, named in honor of U.S. Army First Lieutenant Joseph J. Theinert, killed by an IED in Afghanistan in 2010. Joey’s partner is MTA PD Officer Christopher Matias;
• Canine Pags, named in honor of MTA PD Lieutenant John Pagnoni, one of the first trainers/supervisors of the canine unit, and who passed away from natural causes in November 2016. Pags’ partner is MTA PD Officer Brian McCormack;
• Canine Mike, named in honor of U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Michael H. Ollis, killed by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan in 2013. Mike’s partner is MTA PD Officer, Frank Musto;
• Canine Mac, named in honor of NYPD Detective Steven D. McDonald, shot and paralyzed by gunfire in 1986 and who passed away in 2017. Mac’s partner is MTA PD Officer Alison Schmitt;
• Canine Zolo, named in honor of NYPD Sergeant Paul Tuozzolo, killed by gunfire in the Bronx in 2016. Zolo’s partner is MTA PD Officer Patrick Schondebare;
• Canine Hoss, named in honor of U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Anthony L. Mangano, killed by an IED in Afghanistan in 2008. Hoss’ partner is MTA PD Officer Charlie Spahr;
• Canine Hammer, named in honor of United States Park Police Sergeant Steven Connell, who passed away in 2017 following a medical emergency. Hammer’s partner is United States Park Police Officer Keith McDermott;
• Canine Charlie, named in honor of Peekskill Police Department Detective Charles Wassil, who died from World Trade Center related illnesses in 2013. Charlie’s partner is Peekskill Police Officer Antony Nappi.

Photo courtesy MTA