Miami, Fla. Explosives Detection Canine Helps Miami Prepare for Super Bowl XLIV

Hometown, South Florida K-9 team is part of security effort in Miami for Super Bowl

MIAMI, Feb. 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Not everyone participating in this year's Super Bowl is a football player. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) have fielded their best players to help prepare for a safe and secure Super Bowl XLIV.  These pros include ATF K-9 explosives detection teams that have been deployed to Miami from around the country.  The K-9 teams are working side-by-side with other federal, state and local law-enforcement officers to keep the football teams and fans safe throughout this event.

"The K-9 teams that are here in Miami for the Super Bowl are the best of the best," said Hugo Barrera, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Miami Field Division.  "Like the football teams that will be playing in the Super Bowl, these handlers and their K-9 partners have been training and preparing all year for this event,"  Barrera further stated.  "We are proud to say that the only thing the fans have to worry about is whether their team wins or loses."  

One of the teams working in Miami is ATF Special Agent Canine Handler L.A. Bykowsky and her new partner "Darel", a 16-month-old yellow Labrador retriever.  SACH Bykowsky and K-9 Darel are based in South Florida and recently returned from Virginia, having successfully completed four months of training at ATF's Explosives Detection Canine Handler School.  They will assist at this year's Super Bowl to help locate any type of explosive, which may be in close proximity to the stadium or any other venue relating to the big game.  Their 'routine' work will include criminal investigations and other events where their expertise is needed, detecting the presence of explosives, firearms and ammunition.

ATF has used its explosives detecting canines at other special events including the Republican and Democratic National Conventions, the Presidential Inauguration, the G-8, the World Series, NASCAR, the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics and of course, the Super Bowls.  

ATF's program, which began in 1986, uses only Labrador retrievers.  The dogs are procured from various organizations such as Guiding Eyes for the Blind, the Guide Dog Foundation, Canine Companions for Independence and Puppies Behind Bars.  These special canines are trained to detect a variety of explosive compounds and materials that could be used in an explosive device.  They can also detect firearms and ammunition and are used in the more traditional protective search and sweep operations.  Once the canine and the handler complete the ATF basic certification course, they begin their field work and continue to train on a daily basis.  

SOURCE Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

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