K-9s and their handlers go to school in Grace

After scheduling conflicts kicked them out of several other locations in Caribou County, K-9 drug dog handlers representing several law enforcement agencies were relocated to Black Canyon Elementary in Grace for training. 

Kolby Call and Penny had a good training session as they get more acquainted.

Trainer Mark Rispoli, a world-renowned dog handler and law enforcement officer with 46 years of experience in the field, ran the dogs—and their owners—through the paces over the course of several hours.  The dogs undergoing training were drug dogs (which are trained to alert to minute quantities of illicit substances), as opposed to “bite dogs,” whose name probably speaks for itself.

Over the course of the several day session, Rispoli took the dogs and handlers through a variety of environments, exposing them to the various situations that they would need to know how to navigate as K-9 handlers, including vehicles, residences, and buildings.  

Joining Mark at the school were Sheriff Adam Mabey, Deputy Greg Kemp from Sublette County, Wyoming and his dog Gus, Caribou County Deputy Kolby Call and Penny, Bear Lake Officer Sam Wallentine and Dina, and Carson Steele and Birka.

The purchase of Caribou County’s dog was partially funded through a donation from N.A. 

Sam Wallentine took his turn at the lockers, with Dina.

 Degerstrom, and Penny will make a great addition to the capabilities of the Caribou County Sheriff’s Office, which sees a large number of vehicle stops along Highways 30 and 34, along with regular patrols.

Mark Rispoli and Sheriff Mabey ended up finding out that they had more in common than careers in law enforcement, as Mabey has also trained dogs.  “It’s been a long time since I worked my dog,” Mabey said.  “Every time I see Kolby with his dog, I just look at him and say, ‘have fun!’”
he laughed. 

Rispoli agreed.  “I’m fortunate that I’ve lived vicariously through handlers.  Every time they get a find—and I’ve been doing this 46 years—I still get excited, every time.”

Rispoli and Mabey also agreed that the best way to use a dog is to use as a tool. 

Sheriff Mabey watched as Kolby and Penny "bracketed" the location.

“The best K-9 guys are the ones finding dope without a dog,” Rispoli said.  “The ones where the dog stays in the car.  It’s another tool, another layer to help you get what you want.  It’s a flashlight in the dark.”   

Using miniscule amounts of drugs in filter paper that had done nothing more than sat inside a container with a small amount of contraband in it, Rispoli sectioned the paper and folded it into nearly invisible scraps, which he then hid in various locations around rooms, lockers, and other areas of the school.

The training was both for the dogs and their handlers, as they practiced what to look for in their dogs’ behavior, how to work with them as a team, and how to calibrate the line between patience and vigilance to get the right results.

The school is representative of the environments local K-9 officers are frequently called into in the county.

“We haven’t had a dog for something like 20 years in Montpelier,” Officer Sam Wallentine said.  “I think it’ll be nice to bring them back.”