8 THE QUEENS COURIER • OCTOBER 21, 2021 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
NYPD’s newest canine members were trained in Queens
BY DEAN MOSES
editorial@qns.com
@QNS
Th e NYPD’s newest canine members
are truly bred for the job.
Th e four-legged constables, known
as Transit Enhanced Detection Dogs
(TEDD), are truly one of a kind, according
to Lieutenant John Pappas of the
NYPD Transit Bureau K-9 Division.
While much of New York came to a
screeching standstill during the early
months of the COVID-19 pandemic, his
unit went into overdrive, using the time to
hone the specialized training of their fourlegged
offi cers by creating their very own
breeding program.
Th is unique rearing procedure was
developed to aid in the training of TEDD
dogs who have been in service covertly
for a little over half a decade but are only
being offi cially unveiled now. Th ese hairy
bomb experts can discover the odor of an
explosive device in seconds.
“It’s the fi rst time in the history of
the Police Department that we’ve had a
canine breeding program. It’s very diffi -
cult to do but very worthwhile,” Pappas
said. “Another aspect that’s unique is our
tread program. We basically came up with
a way, in the NYPD’s transit pure canine
unit, to detect unconventional explosives
using an electronic suite that we made
onto an explosives detection dog. It’s a
very useful thing, and we’re the only ones
on the planet doing that. Th e only police
agency in the world that uses it.”
In each instance, a canine made a
successful discovery — and they were
rewarded with a brief tug on a chew toy.
Photos by Dean Moses
Mark O’Connor, Mikey’s handler, says
he trusts his furry partner with his life.
“New York City subway system,
pre-pandemic, was moving
5.7 million people a day.
Th at’s over a billion people a
year. Th at’s more than twice the
A new breed of offi cer.
number of people that fl y in the United
States every year. So, again, one of the
best detection tools that we have is our
proactive canine patrols that can detect
various explosive devices,” Pappas said.
Th anks to training and exposure, the
lieutenant noted, the police dogs are
unfazed by the shriek of incoming trains
and the hustle and bustle of commuter
life. Th is was also exhibited with a safety
sweep of carriages at the 36th Street
station in Queens.
Th e canines are named aft er fallen offi -
cers to help build this bond. Th e dogs
themselves don’t just work with their handlers;
they also live with them to ensure
a connection is made. Mark O’Connor is
Mikey’s handler, and the offi cer says he
trusts the animal with his life.
“We have such a great bond. Ever since
the fi rst day I was given Mikey, the bond,
it’s just gotten stronger and stronger day
by day, so I know he trusts me and I trust
him — I wouldn’t want it any other way,”
O’Connor said. “For the most part we
spend all of our day together. We wake
up, we come to work, we go home, usual-
The canines not only work with their handlers, but also live
with them to build their connection and trust.
Transit Enhanced Detection Dog (TEDD) is a specialized canine bomb detection unit. ly go for a walk.”
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