Wednesday, February 04, 2009

4-legged deputy demonstrates his drug-sniffing skills

By Tim Moran
tmoran@modbee.com

last updated: February 03, 2009 10:52:06 PM

Several dozen new law enforcement officers were introduced to the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday morning, including one with four legs.

"Bear" is the county probation department's new drug-detecting dog, a 2-year-old black Labrador retriever. With his handler, Deputy Probation Officer Chris Strode, Bear demonstrated his prowess at finding narcotics. Marijuana-scented cotton balls were hidden in the county board chambers, and Bear found them, including one taped to the bottom of Chairman Jim DeMartini's chair.

The dog also can detect methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine, Strode said.

The dog and its training cost $13,000, which was funded with savings from reduced workers compensation claims, Chief Probation Officer Jerry Powers said.

Sheriff Adam Christianson introduced 48 graduating recruits from Class 170 at the Stanislaus County Sheriff Regional Training Center and told the board how the center has moved from near failure 2½ years ago to being a statewide model.

The training center previously operated as a joint powers authority between the Sheriff's Department, the Modesto Police Department and Modesto Junior College. The training center had problems in the past, including having its programs suspended by the state.

By 2007, the JPA was in trouble, and a lack of cooperation between the partners threatened the training center, said sheriff's Lt. Jim Gordon, who manages the center.

The Sheriff's Department took over responsibility for the training center and formed a partnership with San Joaquin Delta College, Gordon said.

Ethics, humility emphasized

A revamped training program goes beyond the state certification requirements and emphasizes the ethics of police work, public service and humility, Gordon said.

Class size, which had sunk to 25 or 30 when the center was struggling, now typically start with 65 or 70 with little outside advertising, Gordon said.

With budget problems and hiring freezes at departments around the state, the number of six-month basic law enforcement classes held each year has dropped from four to three, and may go down to two, Christianson said.

But word of mouth about the training center keeps interest high, Gordon said. The center also offers advanced training for veteran officers, and is used by 30 departments from Amador County to Mariposa County.

Stanislaus County has hired 42 deputies from the training center in the past two years. "It has reduced our recruiting costs, and they are all doing a phenomenal job," Gordon said. "There's very little turnover."

The center funding comes from state college money and fees paid by outside law enforcement agencies for training. Stanislaus County contributes $650,000 of the center's $2.2 million budget, Gordon said, which is offset by the money the Sheriff's Department saves in training costs for its own personnel.

Bee staff writer Tim Moran can be reached at tmoran@modbee.com or 578-2349.

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