PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF THE USE OF CANINES IN A PERSONNEL SEARCH APPLICATION (FROM NEW CONCEPTS SYMPOSIUM AND WORKSHOP ON DETECTION AND IDENTIFICATION OF EXPLOSIVES - PROCEEDINGS, 1978 - SEE NCJ-58392)

• NCJ Number: 58396
• Author(s): J C SMITH
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 4 pages
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF TESTING CANINES FOR THE DETECTION OF EXPLOSIVES IN A PERSONNEL SEARCH PASSAGEWAY, CONDUCTED AT THE ALLIED-GENERAL NUCLEAR SERVICES FACILITY IN SOUTH CAROLINA, ARE GIVEN.

Abstract

THE OBJECTIVE OF THESE TESTS WAS TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY AND APPLICABILITY OF CANINES FOR THIS TASK. TWO CANINE AND HANDLER TEAMS FROM THE MILITARY WORKING DOG CENTER AT LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE WERE USED. NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WERE CREATED BY THE INITIAL EXPERIMENTAL SETTING (A UTILITY CLOSET) AND BY THE TRAINING TECHNIQUES WHICH HAVE BEEN TRADITIONALLY USED WITH DETECTION DOGS. AFTER ADDRESSING THESE PROBLEMS, THE EXPERIMENT WAS CARRIED OUT, AND PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF THE RESULTS INDICATES THAT THE CANINES CAN BE USED WITH A HIGHER PROBABILITY OF DETECTION THAN COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE DETECTORS. THIS FACTOR, COUPLED WITH DIVERSIFIED APPLICATIONS BEYOND PERSONNEL SEARCH, SUCH AS FACILITY, EQUIPMENT, AND VEHICLE SEARCHES, ROVING PATROL, ALARM RESPONSES ETC., SUPPORTS THE CONTENTION THAT IT IS PRUDENT TO DO MORE TESTING BEFORE ANY DEFINITIVE CONCLUSIONS ARE DRAWN AS TO THE USE OF CANINES IN THE PERSONNEL SEARCH APPLICATION. NO SUPPORTING MATERIAL IS PROVIDED. (KCP)