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ENLARGE
acob Brewer, or ‘Fireball Boy,’ tries on a bite sleeve during a demonstration of the Summit County Sheriff Department’s K-9 unit at the Keystone Science School day camp recently. The school is also hosting the ‘real-life heroes’ of the fire department and mounties as part of their week-long Soaked and Slimy Superheroes Week.
KEYSTONE — Two hairy, fanged members of Summit County Sheriff’s Department captured 25 campers’ attention at Keystone Science School on Thursday.
Tommy and Bobby, the tail-wagging patrol canines, demonstrated discipline and prowess as they sniffed out hidden objects, retrieved toys and barked on command.
The diverse audience included Captain America, Robin Hood and Fireball Boy — day campers aged 5 to 10 dressed for “Super Slimy Superheroes” week.
Staff member Jordan Egbert said the week’s theme also included demonstrations with heroes from Lake Dillon Fire District and Dillon Police Department’s mounted patrol.
“It’s pretty cool — and we learn, too. That’s the beauty of it,” Egbert said.
The children sat for the canine demonstration at the camp’s amphitheater after making superhero capes and playing with glowing slime.
Summit County Sheriff’s Office Deputies Nathan Opsahl and Brian Smith explained that the dogs came from Europe and respond only to commands in foreign languages. Children chuckled at hearing such forceful Dutch expressions as “Zit (sit)” and “Luid (bark).”
The German and Dutch shepherds detect drugs, and track and apprehend suspects. Opsahl said the dogs help to neutralize tense situations. Neither has bitten a suspect.
“Dogs are becoming more and more popular in the law-enforcement community as times are changing,” he said.
The dogs recently helped apprehend a man suspected of attempted murder in Silverthorne. The suspect did not resist.
“They always surrender at the last moment,” Opsahl said.
The canine handlers command the dogs to bark in such situations to make the subject aware of their presence. Smith said that if a suspect flees, or has already fled, the dogs can detect the scent from dropped items. They’ve been trained to track over a variety of terrain.
“They’re not bloodhounds,” Smith said. “They track ground disturbance.”
This could include snapped twigs or irregularities in grass. On ice, snow and concrete, the dogs will follow the light trails of rubber from shoe soles.
The dogs were added to the department in the past two years at about $15,000 each — which includes equipment and several weeks of training.
Thursday’s demonstration also included use of a bite sleeve, which trains the dogs to attack a suspect’s forearm. Camp outreach director Dave Miller said it was “pretty cool.”
“The dog was shaking it all over the place.”
He said the next week’s camp theme is “Party Like a Rock Star,” to be followed with “Pirates in Paradise.”
Tommy and Bobby, the tail-wagging patrol canines, demonstrated discipline and prowess as they sniffed out hidden objects, retrieved toys and barked on command.
The diverse audience included Captain America, Robin Hood and Fireball Boy — day campers aged 5 to 10 dressed for “Super Slimy Superheroes” week.
Staff member Jordan Egbert said the week’s theme also included demonstrations with heroes from Lake Dillon Fire District and Dillon Police Department’s mounted patrol.
“It’s pretty cool — and we learn, too. That’s the beauty of it,” Egbert said.
The children sat for the canine demonstration at the camp’s amphitheater after making superhero capes and playing with glowing slime.
Summit County Sheriff’s Office Deputies Nathan Opsahl and Brian Smith explained that the dogs came from Europe and respond only to commands in foreign languages. Children chuckled at hearing such forceful Dutch expressions as “Zit (sit)” and “Luid (bark).”
The German and Dutch shepherds detect drugs, and track and apprehend suspects. Opsahl said the dogs help to neutralize tense situations. Neither has bitten a suspect.
“Dogs are becoming more and more popular in the law-enforcement community as times are changing,” he said.
The dogs recently helped apprehend a man suspected of attempted murder in Silverthorne. The suspect did not resist.
“They always surrender at the last moment,” Opsahl said.
The canine handlers command the dogs to bark in such situations to make the subject aware of their presence. Smith said that if a suspect flees, or has already fled, the dogs can detect the scent from dropped items. They’ve been trained to track over a variety of terrain.
“They’re not bloodhounds,” Smith said. “They track ground disturbance.”
This could include snapped twigs or irregularities in grass. On ice, snow and concrete, the dogs will follow the light trails of rubber from shoe soles.
The dogs were added to the department in the past two years at about $15,000 each — which includes equipment and several weeks of training.
Thursday’s demonstration also included use of a bite sleeve, which trains the dogs to attack a suspect’s forearm. Camp outreach director Dave Miller said it was “pretty cool.”
“The dog was shaking it all over the place.”
He said the next week’s camp theme is “Party Like a Rock Star,” to be followed with “Pirates in Paradise.”
