Cocopah PD adds K-9 unit

The two newest officers on the Cocopah police force have a dogged determination when it comes to enforcing the law.

But not to worry, the two officers, Jerry Lee and Cisco, which are both Belgian Malinois, and are the first canines the Cocopah Police Department has ever had.

“The Belgian Malinois dogs were selected because they have the temperament to handle stress and the changing environment of patrol work,” said Cheryl Bradstreet, spokeswoman for the Cocopah Indian Tribe. “They have the necessary intelligence and stamina for the job.”

Bradstreet said the Cocopah Tribe launched the K-9 program so the police department would have narcotic and explosive detection capabilities, as well as for the tracking and apprehension of crime suspects.

“The K-9 unit’s primary job is to assist with the preservation of life, property and business continuity by promoting an atmosphere of service and safety in the community,” Bradstreet said.

The new unit will be part of the police department's special operations group and will also be available to support surrounding law enforcement agencies.

Capt. J. Ramos, operations commander for the police department was instrumental in developing the tribe’s K-9 program.

"We are the only jurisdiction other than Marine Corps Air Station Yuma that has explosive detection capabilities," Ramos said.

Jerry Lee, the veteran canine officer, is 6 years old and can identify five different narcotic odors. He joins the Cocopah Police Department after having previously served with a sheriff's office in Georgia.

Cisco, who is 18 months old, while still a rookie, has completed a Transportation Security Administration explosive detection program and can identify eight different explosive odors.

Officer Chad Conley, an eight-year law enforcement veteran, with prior K-9 operation experience and certifications, is Jerry Lee's handler.

"It is rewarding and challenging," Conley said. "I love being a canine handler."

Conley described his new partner as being laid back, but set in his ways.

"He will go jiggle the doorknob with his nose when he wants to go to work," Conley said. "He can be a bit cantankerous at times also. He has his days like anybody else does."

Officer Omar Villacorta, an eight-year law enforcement veteran, with prior service as a SWAT member, will handle Cisco.

"He is calm and likes to have fun," Villacorta said of his partner Cisco. "But when we need to work he switches to work mode."

Both handlers and dogs are members of various related associations, including the Arizona Canine Law Enforcement Association, and will be certified on an annual basis.

The officers, both two-legged and four-legged, have spent the past few months training and spending as much time together as possible.

The dogs have also developed a special bond with their handlers and live at home with them during off-work hours.

Conley and Villacorta explained the difference between the two types of police K- 9s , saying that a straight drug dog is trained only to sniff out drugs, while patrol dogs, such as Cisco and Jerry Lee, are also taught to protect their handlers, chase bad guys and track missing people.

Jerry Lee and Cisco will also train and work with federal, state and local law enforcement canine teams.

“The K-9s will be available to groups, organizations and schools for presentations. The officer’s talk will focus on the work done by these tribal police dogs to better facilitate an understanding of the team’s role within the community,” said Bradstreet.

For the last couple of months Jerry Lee and Cisco have been training at MCAS Yuma. Cisco started in December while Jerry Lee's first day on the job was in January.

Ramos explained that most police dogs receive their obedience training overseas and learn their detection training, whether it be narcotics or explosive, once they arrive in the United States.

Since Jerry Lee and Cisco have been trained to respond to commands issued in Dutch, Ramos said both Conley and Villacorta had to learn the commands in the language.

"The commands weren't actually all that hard to learn," Villacorta said.

Ramos added the ability to have immediate access to an incendiary device sniffing dog became important to the tribe during an alleged bomb threat at the Cocopah Casino back in August.

Several hours of entertainment for patrons and revenue for the tribe were lost as a result.

Ramos made a presentation about establishing a K-9 unit to the tribal council in September. The council approved the request the following month.