Police dog demo
fascinates all ages

He growled at the over three foot tall hand-carved wooden bear on display in the room and then sat at attention next to his handler.

The four-year-old German Shepherd police dog, Chopper, and his partner, Goodhue County Sergeant Collins Voxland then demonstrated some of the activities that won them the title of First Place Region Team in the 2006 U.S. Police Canine Association's national field trials to the Cannon Kids School Age Child Care Program and members of Triad - Cannon Falls Area Citizens and Law Enforcement Partnership.

Chopper is “a high energy dog”, as described by Voxland, who is trained in obedience, tracking and finding narcotics.

At first, the audience could pet Chopper.

Then he went into action. All on the command of his handler.
Joe Berg, a Cannon Falls police patrolman, was the person to be attacked. He put on a special “sleeve” to protect him from the jaws of the dog which can exert about 750 pounds of pressure into a bite.

Police K-9 dogs, properly trained and handled, give law enforcement officers one of the finest non-lethal aids in the prevention and detection of crime, according to the United States
Police K-9 Association.

These dogs are taught to do the following: 1) Search buildings and areas for unauthorized persons. 2) Track Criminals and search for lost children, etc. 3) Search for evidence dropped by criminals in flight. 4) Search for hidden explosives, narcotics, chemicals, illegally taken game and cadaver substance. 5) Pursue and apprehend, with minimum force, criminals fleeing a serious crime and arrest. 5) Apprehend on command only and in protection of the handler.

Chopper also demonstrated his expertise in tracking from scent. For example, this is used in tracking lost children, Alzheimer’s patients, etc. Chopper would pick up their scent coming from cells fluffing off the person’s body and falling on the grass.
In this demonstration, Voxland hid a package of marijuana inside the gas cap of a Cannon Falls police car. Chopper was told to find it and his excitement was evident as he indicated its hiding place.

The time and dedication that Voxland and Chopper spend in training also paid off in winning the admiration and hearts of the viewers.

(First three photos by Rosie and the last one was by Dave Timm, courtesy of the Cannon Falls Police Department.)

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