Important Information for First Responders at the Scene
We attend a yearly Bloodhound Trailing seminar/school put on by the Virginia Bloodhound Search and Rescue Association. We are also members of VBSAR. The two documents in the "comments" area give valuable information to "first responders and Search Managers" that can help greatly in the successful conclusion of a search for a missing or lost person. This information can be very useful to law enforcement, emergency service agencies and the general public.
To contact Mid-Michigan Working Dogs and utilize our services call your local law enforcement agency and request they call us.
Pager: 989-920-1577
Telephone: 989-261-7446
posted by Lindy @ 5:03 PM
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FIRST RESPONDER PROCEDURES FOR UTILIZING THE MANTRAILING BLOODHOUND
LAW ENFORCEMENT
By
TERRY DAVIS
THIS DOCUMENT WRITTEN FOR OR BY THE VIRGINIA BLOODHOUND SEARCH AND RESCUE ASSOCIATION
COPYRIGHT @1993
The man-trailing Bloodhound is for trailing. They have been known to follow a trail of human scent that was weeks old.
Some cases in which the Bloodhound can be used:
ROBBERY
RAPE
ESCAPES
B&E
ASSAULT
SUICIDE
LARCENY
AUTO LARCENY
HOMICIDE
LINE-UPS
MISSING OR LOST PERSONS
EXPLOSIVE DEVICES
ARSON
Or
ANY OTHER SITUATIONS WHERE THE SUBJECT MAY HAVE LEFT
THE SCENE WITHOUT GETTING INTO AN AUTOMOBILE
What the officer needs to do upon arrival at the scene:
FIRST: Decide whether you can utilize a Bloodhound. Questions you should have answered prior to the Handlers’ arrival.
1) Did anyone see the subject leave the scene or area?
2) How long ago did it happen?
3) If victim or witness on scene get description of subject.
4) Get the direction of flight.
5) Type of footwear; help confirm trail if tracks are observed.
6) What was subject’s mental state of mind.
To trail the subject, the Bloodhound Handler is going to need a scent article, or the last known location of the subject (where they were last seen). Here are some examples of just a few things that can be utilized for scent articles:
1) Worn clothing
2) Any item handled, worn , or touched by the subject (even very small items can be utilized , if necessary)
3) Body fluids (blood, urine, etc.)
4) Interior of a vehicle
5) Rooms ransacked in B&E
6) Footprints (example- subject climbed over fence)
7) Pieces of a detonated explosive devise
KEEP ALL PEOPLE CLEAR OF THE ITEMS OR AREA TO BE UTILIZED BY THE BLOOHOUND TEAM!
If you want a Bloodhound Team, or think you may need to utilize a Bloodhound Team, make the decision as soon as possible. This way you can secure a scent article or secure the location where the subject was last seen, before others contaminate them.
Once it is decided to utilize a Bloodhound Team, call for them as soon as possible. If you are not sure whether a Bloodhound Team can assist, follow the same procedures as if they could be used. Then contact the Handler and brief them on the situation, they will be able to advise if their team can be of any assistance.
SECOND: Preserve the scene. The officer must keep onlookers, officers, and victims away from the scene or exit point. Don’t keep walking through the door the subject came through or down the path or route taken by the subject. Back off as far as possible so the Bloodhound Handler will have an area large enough in which to start the Bloodhound. Turn off vehicles that are close to the area where the Bloodhound has to start. If the subject has dropped stolen items or something that they have handled, leave it (if the weather or situation permits). If it has to be moved, pick it up with a stick, nightstick, coat hanger, etc., something other than your hands. Place it in a clean paper or plastic bag (don’t use bags that have perfume or odor eliminators in them). Place this bag somewhere that it will be secure, and able to be retrieved when the Handler arrives. If someone does happen to handle the article, they must stay at the scene so that the Bloodhound will be able to eliminate that subject.
If for some reason you can not leave the item at its location until the Bloodhound Handler arrives, the following procedures should be followed. This procedure should work in almost all situations, no matter what the item may be, or area (location) the subject made last contact with. A sterile gauze pad (you can acquire these from the rescue squad or hospital) can be used. The other item is clean plastic bag (Ziplock, if possible), or clean paper bag. You should keep some of these items in your vehicle at all times.
When you have identified the item or location to be used, you tear open the wrapping on the gauze pad (never coming in contact with the gauze pad). Wearing rubber gloves, lay the gauze pad on the area, or item, in which the subject has come in contact. Allow the gauze pad to stay in that position for approx. five to ten minutes. Then without touching the gauze pad, place it in one of the bags and put in a secure place until the Handler arrives. If you have any questions concerning this procedure or any other type situation you think of, please contact a Handler so they can discuss the correct procedures prior to an actual incident.
In the case of a stolen vehicle, the first thing an officer will do is get into the vehicle and go through the glove box - DON’T! The Bloodhound will trail you and not the subject, once the Bloodhound arrives and is scented and starts trailing. You can do all the investigating you want and collect the evidence you have on the scene after the Bloodhound is started. If you have a trail of evidence, DON’T FOLLOW IT! The Bloodhound is the trailer, not the officer, collect it later.
THIRD: When the Bloodhound arrives give the handler whatever and all information you have obtained in your preliminary investigation. Have a team ready to go with the Handler that knows the area. This is because the Bloodhound will not attack the subject being trailed and the full attention of the Handler will be on the Bloodhound so they can tell what the hound is telling them. The best practice for this is a two man back-up team.
The Bloodhound is not perfect and may not be of use in every case. Everyone has a bad day, but you don’t know until you try.
Any handler will be more than happy to answer your questions on any aspect of utilizing the Bloodhound, or go into details on procedures to use when requesting a Bloodhound unit.
------------------------------
FIRST RESPONDER PROCEDURES FOR UTILIZING THE MANTRAILING BLOODHOUND
SEARCH MANAGERS
BY
TERRY DAVIS
THIS DOCUMENT WAS WRITTEN FOR OR BY THE VIRGINIA BLOODHOUND SEARCH AND RESCUE ASSOCIATION
COPYRIGHT@ 1997
Search and Rescue Managers are very familiar with utilizing ground search personnel and air-scent dog teams. Managers, temporary search managers sometimes forget about the mantrailing Bloodhounds as an available tool at their disposal.
The mantrailing Bloodhound should be the first resource that is called to respond to the scene.
Yes, the Bloodhound can be utilized at any time during the search. But, If the Bloodhound team is utilized first, you may not need to callout anymore personnel.
The Bloodhound is trained to scent discriminate (if well trained they do this, better than any other breed) and they are capable of doing this while other searchers are actively searching. But, if the Bloodhound team is allowed to get there first, their success rate will be much higher.
The majority of search and rescue personnel never hear about a large number of the searches that the Bloodhound teams are called out on because very often the search comes to a conclusion before any other searchers are called upon.
WHEN THE SEARCH MANAGER ARRIVES ON THE SCENE THEY MUST:
FIRST: Find out whether a Bloodhound Team has been requested already or if one is on the way, if not, get (at least) one coming!
No matter how long the subject has been missing you should still utilize a Bloodhound Team. For an experienced Bloodhound Team, it is not known how old a trail is too old (I have personally worked a trail that was 20 days old with heavy contamination and across pavement, with my then one year old Bloodhound, and successfully located the subject.). It never hurts to try!!
Another problem that is not addressed immediately is the location of the Command Post. It is astounding how many searches I have assisted in, where the command post is located in the same location or very close to the place where to subject was last seen. When managing personnel arrive on the scene, they should immediately make sure the Command Post, Staging Area, etc. are not in the location where the initial (prime area, PLS) search is going to, or is taking place. These things should be located away from the PLS at a local fire dept., school, church, etc.
When the Bloodhound Team arrives they need to be briefed on the situation (as much detail as possible) and what all has been done already in the search.
Some questions they may ask are:
1) Did anyone see the subject leave?
2) How long ago?
3) Is the last person to see them still there?
4) What is the description of the subject?
5) What is the mental state of the subject?
6) What does the subject have with them (weapons, etc.)?
7) What was the direction of travel?
8) What type of foot wear?
9) Are there family members in the area, especially around the place last seen?
10) Have there been family members out searching?
***THIS IS THE WORST THING TO DO!!
NEVER LET FAMILY MEMBERS
WANDER AROUND THE SEARCH AREA!!
SECOND: They will need to know where they can go to obtain a scent article. The scent article is something that the subject has come in contact with, that no one else has touched (preferably), since the subject had contact with it (examples: place last seen, clothing, car keys, hair brush, interior of vehicle, blood, anything they have come in contact with). Keep everyone away from these areas and items.
Normally, the handlers will prefer to collect their own scent articles.
If the scent article cannot be left alone for the handler to collect, you should follow these procedures for collecting it:
If possible, wearing clean rubber gloves, a stick, or a coat hanger, pick up the item (no one should touch the item). Place the item in a clean ziplock plastic or paper bag. Don’t use trash bags, which have odor retardants in them. Now secure the bag where no one else can mess with it. Keep the subject who collected the scent article at the scene. Don’t use gloves, or bags that are from the family!
The Bloodhound Team will need a walker to go with them. This should be someone who is in good physical shape, able to read a map and use a compass, knows the area well and has communications with command post. This could be a very demanding task.
The Bloodhound handler will be able to tell you (the managing body) after being briefed, where they need to start, or what they will be able to do. You cannot give them an area to search. They will go where the Bloodhound takes them.
You may need to remind them to get debriefed after each attempt (task).
With a scent article, the Bloodhound team can also go to where clues have been located and eliminate them or pick up a trail and run it.
If this team has an inconclusive trail, you should call for a second Bloodhound. Dogs are like people, so remember, a dog can’t be right all the time. They will have bad days, too.
The Bloodhound can be a great tool. Their work can give you a direction of travel, locate the subject, eliminate clues, etc.
It would be a good idea to contact the Bloodhound teams in your area and find out what level of training they are at. Be diplomatic (you can contact me and I may be able to help you with this.) You could invite them to some of your meetings, training sessions, etc. Ask them what they expect when they respond to a search. This is the correct time to let each other know what you are expecting at the search scene – not when they show up at the search, which is usually when it happens.
You may contact your local Bloodhound handler, or the organization, at anytime with questions, concerns, problems, etc.
E-mail) vbsar@shentel.net
Web page) www.vbsar.org
"This document is targeted for Search Managers."
FIRST RESPONDER PROCEDURES FOR UTILIZING THE MANTRAILING BLOODHOUND
SEARCH MANAGERS
BY
TERRY DAVIS
THIS DOCUMENT WAS WRITTEN FOR OR BY THE VIRGINIA BLOODHOUND SEARCH AND RESCUE ASSOCIATION
COPYRIGHT@ 1997
Search and Rescue Managers are very familiar with utilizing ground search personnel and air-scent dog teams. Managers, temporary search managers sometimes forget about the mantrailing Bloodhounds as an available tool at their disposal.
The mantrailing Bloodhound should be the first resource that is called to respond to the scene.
Yes, the Bloodhound can be utilized at any time during the search. But, If the Bloodhound team is utilized first, you may not need to callout anymore personnel.
The Bloodhound is trained to scent discriminate (if well trained they do this, better than any other breed) and they are capable of doing this while other searchers are actively searching. But, if the Bloodhound team is allowed to get there first, their success rate will be much higher.
The majority of search and rescue personnel never hear about a large number of the searches that the Bloodhound teams are called out on because very often the search comes to a conclusion before any other searchers are called upon.
WHEN THE SEARCH MANAGER ARRIVES ON THE SCENE THEY MUST:
FIRST: Find out whether a Bloodhound Team has been requested already or if one is on the way, if not, get (at least) one coming!
No matter how long the subject has been missing you should still utilize a Bloodhound Team. For an experienced Bloodhound Team, it is not known how old a trail is too old (I have personally worked a trail that was 20 days old with heavy contamination and across pavement, with my then one year old Bloodhound, and successfully located the subject.). It never hurts to try!!
Another problem that is not addressed immediately is the location of the Command Post. It is astounding how many searches I have assisted in, where the command post is located in the same location or very close to the place where to subject was last seen. When managing personnel arrive on the scene, they should immediately make sure the Command Post, Staging Area, etc. are not in the location where the initial (prime area, PLS) search is going to, or is taking place. These things should be located away from the PLS at a local fire dept., school, church, etc.
When the Bloodhound Team arrives they need to be briefed on the situation (as much detail as possible) and what all has been done already in the search.
Some questions they may ask are:
1) Did anyone see the subject leave?
2) How long ago?
3) Is the last person to see them still there?
4) What is the description of the subject?
5) What is the mental state of the subject?
6) What does the subject have with them (weapons, etc.)?
7) What was the direction of travel?
8) What type of foot wear?
9) Are there family members in the area, especially around the place last seen?
10) Have there been family members out searching?
***THIS IS THE WORST THING TO DO!!
NEVER LET FAMILY MEMBERS
WANDER AROUND THE SEARCH AREA!!
SECOND: They will need to know where they can go to obtain a scent article. The scent article is something that the subject has come in contact with, that no one else has touched (preferably), since the subject had contact with it (examples: place last seen, clothing, car keys, hair brush, interior of vehicle, blood, anything they have come in contact with). Keep everyone away from these areas and items.
Normally, the handlers will prefer to collect their own scent articles.
If the scent article cannot be left alone for the handler to collect, you should follow these procedures for collecting it:
If possible, wearing clean rubber gloves, a stick, or a coat hanger, pick up the item (no one should touch the item). Place the item in a clean ziplock plastic or paper bag. Don’t use trash bags, which have odor retardants in them. Now secure the bag where no one else can mess with it. Keep the subject who collected the scent article at the scene. Don’t use gloves, or bags that are from the family!
The Bloodhound Team will need a walker to go with them. This should be someone who is in good physical shape, able to read a map and use a compass, knows the area well and has communications with command post. This could be a very demanding task.
The Bloodhound handler will be able to tell you (the managing body) after being briefed, where they need to start, or what they will be able to do. You cannot give them an area to search. They will go where the Bloodhound takes them.
You may need to remind them to get debriefed after each attempt (task).
With a scent article, the Bloodhound team can also go to where clues have been located and eliminate them or pick up a trail and run it.
If this team has an inconclusive trail, you should call for a second Bloodhound. Dogs are like people, so remember, a dog can’t be right all the time. They will have bad days, too.
The Bloodhound can be a great tool. Their work can give you a direction of travel, locate the subject, eliminate clues, etc.
It would be a good idea to contact the Bloodhound teams in your area and find out what level of training they are at. Be diplomatic (you can contact me and I may be able to help you with this.) You could invite them to some of your meetings, training sessions, etc. Ask them what they expect when they respond to a search. This is the correct time to let each other know what you are expecting at the search scene – not when they show up at the search, which is usually when it happens.
You may contact your local Bloodhound handler or the organization, at anytime with questions, concerns, problems, etc.
Local Contact: MMWD
Phone) 989-261-7446 or 616-891-0145
E-mail) rlindblom@chartermi.net
Web Page) www.bloodhoundscents.blogspot.com
E-mail) vbsar@shentel.net
Web page) www.vbsar.org
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