[Music]
Narrator: Events like the Boston Marathon Bombing as well as the
recent attacks in Brussels, demonstrates the realistic nature
the explosive threat poses to the United States. The explosive detection K-9 is the
the best most versatile mobile explosive detection tool we have protecting
the homeland from the explosive threat.
Don Roberts: The mission of the DHS S&T Canine program is to provide the tools
techniques and knowledge to better understand, train and utilize the Explosive
Detection Canine teams. Our customers are the Federal and State and Local
end users of the Explosive Detection Canine teams throughout the Homeland Security
enterprise. One such partnership has been with the University of Maryland Police Department.
David Mitchell: On game days we're one of the largest cities in the state of Maryland.
At our football field over sixty-thousand patrons. We you amass thousands of
people, its really a unique challenge. So obviously, we realize
that we could be an attractive target. The question then is, what do we have
that can close the gap between the threat and our response capability.
Don Roberts: One initiative we're taking on, is to understand the strengths and
limits of the canine specially trained at detecting person born
improvised explosive devices being carried in by people either on their
on their person or in bags. We've entered into a partnership in the
National Capitol Region where we're starting parametric testing
meaning we're varying amounts and types, and placements
of these explosives, varying the amounts of crowd throughput. Trying to
get some statistical significant data on just how good they are.
David Mitchell: These dogs are incredibility high trained
in a very unique way. In addition to traditional bomb work, where they
would go in and clear a classroom or a venue, they also work the
crowd. So as people walk by, you're giving a wake of air and the dogs are
scenting that. And they're going to pick up on any ingredient that is used
for the making of some type of explosive device.
Narrator: The program also has project to develop non-hazardous
canine training aids for the Homeland Security enterprise.
Don Roberts: The problem is, this is a sensitive explosive its difficult to train
with. These guys aren't getting the frequency of training that we feel
might be necessary to stay proficient. The TSA National Explosive Detection
Canine Team program is our main Federal customer. One of their main
priorities was this non-hazardous canine training aid for this certain
homemade explosive class. It was a challenge out to our expertise our chemistry
experts to see if they could design a product like this.
Dr. Trang Vu: The peroxide training aids, there is a great need for it
in the canine community. But the key is even if we can detect those compounds
if the dogs don't respond to it out in the field than the training aids that we're
trying to develop is not going to work very well.
Don Roberts: This product being non-hazardous allows them to train
and test in the operational scenario. Meaning they can go out and
put in luggage or put it in vehicles or, bring to an airport which they currently
couldn't do with these homemade explosives.
David Mitchell: DHS S&T is very unique, its one stop shopping you
can test the training that these dogs have undergone and scientifically
certify that this training works, and its worth the cost. This is the best
technology available today. And we are so fortunate to have this technology
here being tested at the University of Maryland College Park.