“Birka” sworn in and ready to serve!

Officer Carson Steele brought a smile to last week’s City Council meeting in Soda Springs as he helped SSPD’s newest officer “Birka” the German Shepherd through her swearing in.  Birka was recruited to fill the vacancy in the department created with the retirement of Cash, who served the community for many years beforehand.  

According to Steele, who will serve as Birka’s fulltime partner, “A K9 unit enhances our abilities as an agency to combat the illicit drugs trade.  It also helps us in our abilities to keep dangerous drugs off our streets.”   

Like most communities throughout the country, Caribou County has its fair share of drug interdictions throughout the year.  Soda Springs, located as it is near the interchange of state highways heading in all directions, sees a number of driver stops throughout the year that result in drug seizures.  It may be surprising to some just how extensive and sensitive Birka’s training is with regard to drug detection.  Officer Steele explains, “Birka specializes in the detection of the odor of illegal drugs such as methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, heroin, marijuana, and opium.  Her day to day tasks include regular scent work and obedience training, and real world drug enforcement.  Her days off include regular training, and living at home with my family and I.”

Steele explains that Birka will “live full time with me and has her own kennel and dog run with ample space for security and to decompress.”

The two recently completed training together, which is a specialized process that allows them to effectively work together as a team.  “Upon arrival [to the training] you immediately receive your new K9 partner to begin the bonding process,” Steele explains. “The handler and K9 live together and spend every day with each other to build trust and confidence in each other.  After the boding process is complete you being scent work training.  During this process you learn to understand how the dog reacts and responds to the odor of illicit drugs.  Once you’ve learned the dog’s abilities, you take a national and state certification exam and qualify with your dog for work in a law enforcement capacity.”

That work begins right away, and is just in time for the busy summer driving and tourism seasons.  The days from Memorial Day to Labor Day are generally considered the peak for traffic through the area, and the pair will be in place just in time to help oversee the city’s safety and security for the summer.  Steele has a very positive outlook heading into it.

“From the start of the process to now, Birka has been very faithful and obedient as a partner,” he says.  “Being a K9 handler is such a unique opportunity that I’m grateful to have.  I’m excited to get to work with K9 Birka to enhance her career as well as my own along with the privilege of keeping our community safe together.”