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BART to show off new, TSA-certified bomb-sniffing dogs

 

Bomb-sniffing dogs will be ready to perform live on-the-air for morning shows

Tomorrow morning, two of the three new members of the BART Police Department's bomb sniffing dog force will be ready to show off their explosive detecting skills live on the air for TV, radio and web casting morning shows.

The BART Police Department's bomb-sniffing dog team is now ten members strong. These three new dogs are different from the rest of the canine team in that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has certified them to detect explosives through the National Explosive Detection Canine Team Program. BART's seven other bomb-sniffing dogs are certified through private trainers. Additionally, the seven other dogs are cross-trained in the search and capture of suspects, whereas the TSA-certified dogs are trained to focus solely on explosive detection.

BART /TSA PARTNERSHIP
The National Explosives Detection Canine Team Program is an example of TSA's effort to partner with local law enforcement agencies and bring its expertise in training explosives detection canine teams to detect a broad range of explosives to the mass transit mode.

BART provides the law enforcement officers as canine handlers. The TSA provides the canine and partial reimbursements to offset the cost of maintaining the canine team, explosives training aids and the training. Together this team can respond quickly to help detect explosives in a wide range of environments and situations.

WHO:
BART'S New, TSA-Certified Bomb-Sniffing Dogs, TSA & BART Officials

WHAT:
One-on-one Interviews and Demonstration of Canine Detection Ability

WHEN:
Wednesday, August 9, 2006 at 6 a.m.

WHERE:
West Oakland BART Station
1451 7th Street
Oakland, CA 94607

VISUALS:
BART Police Officers and BART Bomb Dogs Showing off Dogs' Explosive-Detection Skills