Saber knows how to sniff out crime.
The 4-year-old German Shepherd and K-9 officer works with the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office, sniffing out narcotics. Partner NCSO Patrol Deputy Chris Walton has worked alongside his canine partner since October 2015. Saber and Walton are teamed to locate marijuana, heroin, cocaine and methylendioxymethamphetamine or MDMA, also known as “Ecstasy,” according to Walton.
For Saber, it’s all part of a night’s work.
“When they make contact with that odor, they are trained to get as close as possible to a source,” Walton said.
Saber completed a demonstration in the NCSO parking lot Jan. 20, showing her ability to detect narcotic-laced scents. Walton prepared Saber by putting her on a leash and turning her eyes away from the area. He walked over to an SUV and placed a scented item atop the front left tire.
After casually sniffing a Jeep, a Toyota sedan and a Volkswagen without reaction, Saber walked to the SUV that had a scented item. Upon sniffing the area, Saber sat beside the tire and refused to move, turning her attention to the affected tire. Once Walton removed the item, he rewarded Saber with her favorite chew toy. She was then released momentarily off the leash, free to chew the rubber toy.
“The accuracy on these dogs is pretty amazing,” Walton said.
Because narcotic scents linger, Saber and other K-9 officers trained in scent detection can smell odors even long after the drug has been removed.
“If there’s nothing, there was something,” NCSO Sheriff Bill Leeper said.
Walton enjoys the enthusiasm Saber has for training and working to detect narcotics.
“She loves to work,” Walton said.
Three additional canine teams comprise the narcotics crime unit, including German Shepherd/Belgian Malinois mix Lokey and Deputy Trevor Zittrower, Belgian Malinois Armor and Deputy James Ennis and German Shepherd Diesel and Deputy Kyle Tholl.
Leeper noted how the NCSO benefits by utilizing Saber and the other canines in the unit. Though they cost thousands of dollars to train and support, funding derives mostly from state and federal grants. Portions not covered by grants are “offset by the benefits received through their participation in forfeiture work.”
“The K-9s’ contribution to NCSO comes in several different ways,” he wrote via email Jan. 23. “There is the benefit of public relations between the agency, the community and our schools. Monetarily the narcotics K-9s are instrumental in many asset forfeiture cases, which in turn generate revenue for the county, which according to Florida State Statute, can be used to purchase additional equipment or can be donated to non-profit organizations within our community. Our narcotics K-9s are dual purpose K-9s, which means they are trained in narcotics detection, as well as tracking. The tracking benefits of our K-9s serve as a valuable tool in the apprehension of fugitives as well as locating missing children. They also supplement the tracking services of our bloodhounds, which are utilized by corrections personnel.”
Saber lives with Walton so that she can rest and relax before each 12-hour shift. She and Walton also train several hours a week.
“I enjoy dogs,” he said. “I enjoy working with dogs and I enjoy working narcotics. It’s a passion of mine.”
The deputy dislikes the ill effects that narcotics abuse has on citizens.
“I enjoy the work, getting it off the street and getting it out of people’s hands,” Walton said.
He praised Saber and the K-9 unit that serves Nassau County.
“Their sense of smell for detector work for which we do is far superior to humans,” he said. “Their sensitivity to odors is a great value to law enforcement officers. It’s just a great tool that law enforcement utilizes. We have a great unit. I can’t speak highly enough of them. They’re a joy to work beside and they feel the same about narcotics work. It takes a lot of dedication to work in a unit like this and it’s equally rewarding because of the work and the partnership you experience.”
Since October 2015, Saber has completed 100 deployments with Walton and assisted in removing 30.7 grams of cocaine, 401.14 grams of marijuana and 52.53 grams of meth.
Walton said Saber’s safety is “first and foremost.”
He has come to learn her personality traits just as he would have working with humans.
“You learn it. You see it every day,” Walton said. “I know when she’s off. I know when she’s not on point or having an off day. My attitude affects her attitude and her attitude affects my attitude.”
When Saber doesn’t seem as tuned into her duties as she could be, Walton motivates his canine partner by giving her increased attention or refocusing her to the tasks at hand. “It doesn’t happen often,” he said.
The dogs may provide a quicker turnaround in crime detection.
“Our narcotics detection and enforcement would continue without the presence of K-9s; however, the K-9s’ keen sense of smell makes a patrol officer’s task of locating hidden narcotics much more effective and efficient,” Leeper wrote.
Walton would like to continue work with Saber in the years ahead.
“She’s that good of a dog,” he said. “As long as I can … it may sound funny, but she makes the job that much better.”