Page 14 August 13, 2015 EL SEGUNDO HERALD K-9 Unit from front page Arthur will be officially retired at next week’s El Segundo City Council meeting. He will continue to live with Cameron, as he has done since 2007. “At home, Arthur was able to relax and be just like a normal dog,” Cameron said. “He would even travel with my family when we’d go on camping trips.” An officer since 2002 and member of the suspects. Roxy’s efficiency in searching can save hundreds of manpower hours annually as well as zero in on evidence and suspects other officers could not possibly identify. “This frees up officers from calls much more quickly so we can resume patrolling the city and answer calls for service,” Leavitt said. Since joining the department, Roxy has moved in with Leavitt and his wife. The couple also have another dog—a German Shepherd mix named Gunner. “Roxy enjoys playing with Gunner and they interact very well chasing each other around the yard and wrestling until they are both exhausted,” Leavitt said. Working to exhaustion seems to be Roxy’s MO. Leavitt described his new partner as “highly energetic” and “motivated” to get the job done no matter how tiring the task. “But at home, she loves to be petted and enjoys her attention,” he said. “She likes playing fetch and will bring the ball to me without being prompted because she knows I will throw it for her. She is great around people and is very trainable.” Roxy is also on the smaller size compared to her predecessor and the department’s other canine, the 80-pound Belgian Malinois named Leo who partners with Officer Steve Trujillo. As Arthur kicks off a hopefully long and happy retirement and Roxy embarks on what should likely be a six-year career, Cameron made it a point to mention that the department has established a canine retirement fund to help pay for medical expenses painting incurred after the dogs complete their service time. The campaign PAINTING by FRANCO stemmed in part from the OWNER unfortunate & OPERATOR story of Ty, a Belgian INTERIOR Malinois who & EXTERIOR developed PAINTING Laryngeal Paralysis (closing Residential of his breathing and Commercial tube) in 2013 Handyman Services: at the age of dry seven wall • fencing and had • tile •to roof retire repair from • electric the pressure washer • termite repair department. Ty 310-passed away 376-a few 6938 months ago. “The retirement fund www.comes paintingbyfranco.from donations com from the public and Bonded •it’s Full Liability extremely & Workers Compensation important Insurance • Lic.#we 954843 get the message out,” Cameron said, adding that donations may be sent to the El Segundo Police Department, 348 Main Street, El Segundo, CA 90245, payable 24 to K9 Retirement Fund. In the Hour meantime, may Service both of these dogs continue to have their days--Since 1990 and • Lic then # 770059 some…• C-42 C- 36 • C-34 C20 A Officer Chris Cameron and his “best friend” Arthur recently retired from K-9 duties after eight years of service. Cameron now works patrol sans dog. Photos courtesy of ESPD. department for 17 years, Cameron recalled going on his first police ride-along at the age of 12 and being paired with a K-9 handler. “That’s when I knew I wanted to be a cop,” he said, adding that his father was also a police officer. Cameron will pay the City the tidy sum of $1 to purchase Arthur, who has found the initial transition to “normal life’ a bit challenging. “He struggled at first and was depressed when he’d see me leave and go to work without him,” Cameron said. “He would race to the front door and want to go with me. Even when on walks, you can tell he just wants to go back to work. But I think he’s starting to get used to his new life. And luckily he is still in great shape and in good health.” Over the last month, Cameron helped train the department’s new canine, Roxy—a threeyear “I believe in the K-9 program and what we want to accomplish, which is to find the really bad guys,” he said. Roxy and Leavitt attended a six-week basic handler course at the Riverside-based Adlerhorst from June 8 to July 17. When a K-9 position opens, the prospective handlers participate in an oral interview to be selected. Other prerequisites for the position include having a fenced-in yard and a spot to park a police car at home. Prospective handlers also almost always train as decoys or agitators where they take a two-day course at Adlerhorst learning how to take bites from dogs while wearing protective suits. “Often they will do this [play decoy] for three to four years before they’re selected,” Cameron said. Current and former handlers go out and test dogs in order to choose the one that will be the best fit the department. “We like social dogs who have an even temperament.” El Segundo’s K-9 unit began in 1981 and continues to maintain two teams as it did at its inception. All the dogs begin their careers as patrol canines and after six months are crosstrained patrol car outfitted with a kennel in the backseat. “We will respond to routine calls for service and make proactive traffic stops and citizen contacts like any other patrol officer,” he said. “In addition to patrol duties, we set aside a small amount of time daily to train and expose Roxy to the types of things we will encounter in the field. We also have longer Officer Alexander Leavitt and Roxy began service last month as the El Segundo Police Department’s newest K-9 team. times set aside weekly and monthly dedicated to training to ensure we are both up to speed with the hazards of a real K-9 deployment.” Roxy’s primary purpose is to find people and things. When she locates a suspect, she is trained to guard and bark to alert Leavitt. If the suspect tries to run away or attack the dog, Roxy will bite. “Due to the fact Roxy is trained to bite, we only deploy her under certain circumstances,” Leavitt said. “This includes searching for an armed suspect or an outstanding felon who poses a danger to the public or other officers.” Also trained in article searches, Roxy will look for anything with recent human odor— including items such as a guns, tools, knives, and stolen merchandise dropped or thrown by painting design & construction PAINTERS PLUS INTERIOR • EXTERIOR PLUS IMPROVEMENTS • REPAIRS FREE ESTIMATES LOWEST PRICES • GUARANTEED QUALITY 5 YEAR FREE MAINTENANCE SERVING THE BEACH CITIES FOR OVER 20 YEARS NFL CALL DON 310-798-0450 from page 6 LIC # 726089 Packers for the top team in the NFC and the right to take on the Colts in Super Bowl 50. Football season may just be the best time of the year. America’s favorite sport is almost back and after some brief warm-up games, the pads and the helmets will be put on and buckled up and the 2015-’16 season will be underway. TOTAL CONCEPT DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION CCL#: 522719 Complete Renovations Outdoor Living Areas Stone Patios, Fireplaces, BBQ’s, Waterfalls & Spas, Water Wise Softscapes Website: www.TCLsouthbay.com Call: 310-371-3368 handyman BILL’S HOME & APARTMENT MAINTENANCE CONTRACTOR QUALITY at Handyman Prices. We cover everything from A-Z. Bill Henrichon Cell: 310-890-7531 Office: 310-542-3470 Billshomeandaptmain@yahoo.com CA ST LIS# 786081 / Bonded & Insured for narcotics detection. Running two 2011 2012 2013 teams allows the department to have a canine working seven days a week, with handlers on call 24 hours a day. Asset forfeiture monies (proceeds of five percent from criminal activity seizures credited to the dog) subsidize the program. Arthur’s work translated to just over $500,000 in asset forfeiture dollars. As the department’s newest handler, Leavitt will drive in a marked, black and white K-9 Serving the South Bay for 25 years FREE ESTIMATES As mentioned, this season may already have its favorites and its underdogs,plumbing but 16 weeks is a very long time. As summer turns into fall and endless possibilities Phone/Text 310.738.7094 arise, sports fans everywhere are simply comforted in the fact that lights are back on and the stadium doors are back open. Football is finally back. • flooring KIRK FLOORING (310) 322-6099 Fax (310) 322-6899 lic# 648106 333 Indiana Street, El Segundo sales@kirkflooring.com handyman carpet vinyl wood TOUCHSTONE PAINTING • PLASTERING HANDYMAN Reasonably Priced – Referrals Upon Request 310-517-9677 old female Belgian Malinois who was raised in Holland. As such, all her commands are in Dutch. “She was raised as a puppy to one day be used as a police service dog,” Roxy’s handler, Officer Alexander Leavitt, explained. 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