K9

The K9 Unit is a specialized position within the Police Department. A police dog, also known as K-9 or K9 (a homophone of canine), is a dog specifically trained to assist members of law enforcement. Dogs have been used in law enforcement since the Middle Ages. The most commonly used breeds are German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois, but several other breeds are represented having some unique talents. Basset Hounds, Bloodhounds, and Labrador Retrievers, for example, are known for their tracking, trailing, and detection skills. Used as a means of law enforcement widely across the United States, Police K-9s usually serve in the force for 6 to 9 years. In many countries, the intentional injuring or killing of a police dog is a criminal offense.

Police Departments require a dog to first pass basic obedience training. The dogs must be able to respond to and obey the commands of their handler without hesitation for proper control.

There are two common classifications of police K-9s:

  • Patrol: These dogs are used to provide patrol duties (officer protection, suspect apprehension, area or building clearance, and security in sensitive or controlled areas.
  • Detection: These dogs are used to find either narcotics OR explosives. Note it is either one or the other.

Dogs used in law enforcement are trained to either be “single purpose” or “dual purpose” K9s.

  • Single purpose dogs are used primarily for either patrol duties or detection duties.  We also have single purpose K9s that are used only for tracking, lost persons location, or cadaver detection.
  • Dual purpose dogs are trained to combine these duties in one K9.  In the United States when a narcotics K-9 indicates to its handler that it has detected the odor of narcotics by searching the perimeter of a vehicle, the officer has reasonable cause to search the entire vehicle without a warrant.

Motorcycle

Motorcycle Units hold a unique position within the Police Department. Police motorcycles have many functions including traffic enforcement, patrol duties, escorts, public relations and parades. Motorcycles are highly maneuverable and their high acceleration response capabilities make them excellent tools for traffic. One great is the ability to access areas a standard patrol car cannot go.

 

ATV

The ATV is used for patrolling the beaches during the summer months. The ATV unit is marked with the Nahant Police Insignia and is equipped to provide rapid responses to emergency situations. The ATV is a valuable asset not only during the summer months, but during the winter months, as it can provide aid during snow storms. Specialized in-house training is required prior to any officer operating the ATV.

Hummer

The ambulance style Hummer (Humvee) was acquired through the Federal Government by the Department of Defense under the 1033 Program at no cost to the town in June 2019. The vehicle   This unit allows for Police and Emergency services to evacuate residents, and travel through high water during storm events causing high waters, and/or heavy snow.

Bicycle

The bicycles are used during summer months, or during outdoor events, such as the Nahant Town’s 4th of July. These enhance the ability to navigate crowded areas in a swift and safe manner. The bicycles provide more “face-to-face” contact with the general public.

Drone

The Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) Section, commonly known as the Drone Unit, is dedicated to enhancing the operational capabilities of the Nahant Police Department, as well as the Nahant Emergency Management Department. The unit provides a valuable aerial perspective that aids officers in managing public safety events, traffic incidents, temporary perimeter security, and other specialized situations. UAS can also be rapidly deployed for tactical overwatch and search and rescue operations. The Drone Unit is authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and is currently made up of three trained and FAA licensed remote pilots.