CONTACT: Sgt. Belinda Joseph
Officer Havon McLeod
(424) 646-5591
LOS ANGELES AIRPORT POLICE HOSTS S.K.I.D.D.S TRAINING CLASS FOR THE FIRST TIME
(Los Angeles, California – March 3, 2015) Los Angeles Airport Police (APD) hosted SWAT & K-9s Interacting During Deployment School (SKIDDS) for the first time February 25 – 27. The three-day training was held at Ontario International Airport and the Ontario Police Department.
SKIDDS is an organized joint-training session where Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) and Canine (K-9) teams work together to coordinate emergency response techniques.
APD was represented at the training by the agency’s six field-deployed dual K-9 teams along with the Emergency Services Unit (ESU). The majority of officers in attendance have participated in previous SKIDDS exercises with past canine partners. However, it was the first time for all six of the current canines to undergo the specialized training.
Following the SKIDDS training, APD’s Dual K-9 program now has the ability to serve in four distinct missions: Tactical Operations, Patrol- Suspect Apprehension, Off- Leash Explosives Detection on People and Explosives Detection. All four functions are unique to each mission and require routine training.
The SKIDDS course included training on approaches, entries, slow stealth and tactical team movements, as well as searching techniques, safer arrest techniques, and team movement during live gunfire. Instructors included personnel from West Covina Police Department, Santa Ana Police Department and Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department. Among the 45 participants, six K-9 teams from other agencies partnered with their own SWAT teams for the exercises. These agencies included El Segundo Police Department, Las Vegas Metro Police Department, Colton Police Department and Gilroy Police Department.
The Los Angeles Airport Police K-9 Unit is dedicated to enhancing the law enforcement services of the Airport Police through high visibility patrols in public areas, physical deterrence, explosives detection, unattended-vehicle and article investigations, and public service to the aviation community. The Los Angeles Airport Police Emergency Services Unit’s mission is to provide the Los Angeles Airport Police with a tactical response to critical incidents. The officers respond to major incidents, emergency calls, unusual occurrences and tactical situations.
The Los Angeles Airport Police Division is the Nation's premier aviation law enforcement agency with more than 1,100 specially trained police officers, security officers, and civilian staff protecting Los Angeles International, LA/Ontario International and Van Nuys airports.
From Left to Right: Los Angeles Airport Police K-9 Officers Williams, Zenteno, Garzon, McLeod, Orlanes
Top: Los Angeles Airport Police Officer Denniston and his partner Whiskey
From Left to Right: Los Angeles Airport Police Officers Bojorquez, Denniston, R. Blaha, Mora, Corral, Chow and Salamanca
Top Row: Los Angeles Airport Police Officers T. Daniels, J. Adrian, Chow, R. Blaha, Sgt. Takaki,
Police Officers Mora, Salamanca, Bojorquez, Corral,
Bottom Row: Los Angeles Airport Police Officers Garzon, Williams, Zenteno, Denniston, McLeod and Orlanes
Photograph Courtesy of Madeleine Flanagan
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