Amazing Arson Dog Wins Posthumous Award

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — New York's top fraud fighter for 2016, named by the New York Alliance Against Insurance Fraud on Wednesday, is a yellow Lab named Scooter.

The NYAAIF called her "A remarkable arson dog whose nifty nose earned dozens of arson convictions."

Scooter died in October. But the trained Labrador retriever had a memorable 10-year career, investigating hundreds of fires with the Rockland County Sheriff's Department. She also worked cases for adjacent counties.

Her longtime handler Det. Doug Lerner accepted the Fraud Fighter of the Year award on her behalf from the New York Alliance Against Insurance Fraud at its annual meeting. Scooter and Lerner were inseparable in teaming to investigate fires.

Scooter joined the Rockland County Sheriff's Department fire unit in 2006.

Arson dogs can smell 100,000 times better than humans. Scooter could discover tiny amounts of gasoline or other firestarter amid piles of blackened ruins. Her evidence proved crucial in helping earn arson and insurance-fraud convictions, said Alliance Chairman Jim Berrigan, in presenting the award.

Scooter's evidence led to dozens of convictions. Many involved homes or other buildings burned for insurance schemes. The conviction rate is four times higher for law enforcement departments with canine crime fire fighters, Alliance officials said.

Discovered in a Chicago dog shelter, Scooter graduated from a rigorous national training program to become a certified arson dog. Only about one of 10 canines graduate. Most are Labrador retrievers. Their keen noses and inquisitive, outgoing personalities make them natural fits for scouring rubble for clues.

Scooter's friendly personality also made her a favorite in the sheriff's department. Scooter helped teach school kids about fire safety as well. Scooter's demonstrations were popular among students and teachers.

The training of Scooter and her handler was funded by a grant from State Farm.

The Alliance comprises more than 100 insurers combating insurance crime by educating New Yorkers about fraud's high costs to consumers throughout the state.