FCSO Canine Unit (K-9)
Canine Memorial Park
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Training Video
Training
In 1999 the Flagler County Sheriff's Office adopted the training standards that were brought to the United States from Germany in 1986 by Mr. Wendell Nope. Mr. Nope had studied and achieved the level of Teaching Judge after attending the German Training Program known as PsP. Lt. Birdsong was the first Flagler County handler to be certified as a PsP handler under this system, when he attended training through the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.
The Flagler County K-9 Unit uses the PsP selection test when choosing new K-9's to join the unit. The K-9's are then matched with a handler to be trained as a patrol / narcotics or patrol / explosive K-9 team. Once selected the team undergoes 200 hours of training for narcotics detection or 600 hours of training for explosive detection. After completing this phase the K-9 team is evaluated and tested / certified by a PsP Judge.
The K-9 team then completes 600 hours of training to achieve the level of State Certified K-9 Team and PsP Certified Dog Team. During this training the disciplines of area search, apprehension, article recovery, building search, tracking and obedience are taught. This training program also includes extensive handler training through written testing and term papers. This course requires the handler to achieve a passing score of 80% on all phases. Failure to obtain this score results in the handler being removed from the program.
After completion of the initial certification all K-9 teams complete 16 hours of monthly maintenance training. The teams then re-certify annually through written and practical testing. Cpl. Jamie Roster whom has reached the level of FDLE State Certified Trainer and PsP Trainer is responsible for the training of the K-9 teams.
K9 Teams
Lt. Steve Birdsong (call sign K9-2) pictured at right with canine partner Hondo, joined the Flagler County Sheriff's Office in 1997 after serving eight years as a military police officer in the United States Army. During this time he obtained his AA degree in management. He joined the K-9 Unit in 1999 and became the first PsP certified Patrol / Narcotics detection handler within the agency. He previously served on S.W.A.T. and is handling his second K-9 while he fulfills his duties as the Watch Commander for Delta Squad.
Cpl. Jamie Roster (call sign K9-3) pictured at left with canine partner Gypsy, joined the Flagler County Sheriff's Office in 2002. He previously served six years in the United States Air Force. Before joining the department. Cpl. Roster handled Bloodhounds for the agency on a volunteer basis. Cpl. Roster is a state certified trainer and the first certified PsP trainer within the agency, in the areas of Patrol / Narcotics and Explosives. Cpl. Roster previously served on S.W.A.T and has extensive training in the area of contraband and concealment. He is currently the K-9 Unit Trainer and a handler for Alpha / Charlie Squad.
Dep. Fred Smith (call sign K9-4) pictured at right with canine partner Arko, joined the Flagler County Sheriff's Office in 1998. He was previously assigned to the narcotics unit for six years at which time he worked with the Tri-County Narcotics Task Force. Dep. Smith joined the K-9 unit in 2007 and is a PsP certified handler. He is a current member of S.W.A.T and handles a Patrol / Narcotics detection K-9 for Bravo and Delta Squad.
Dep. Dominic Guida (call sign K9-5) pictured at left with canine partner Cain, is our home town boy. He graduated from Flagler Palm Coast High School in 1997. Dep. Guida joined the Flagler County Sheriff's Office in 2003 after spending a year with the Daytona Beach Police Department. Dep. Guida previously served as a patrol deputy and Field Training Officer before being selected to the K-9 unit in 2007. Dep. Guida is a PsP certified handler and currently handles a Patrol / Narcotics detection K-9 for Alpha / Charlie Squad.
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