K-9s likely back to work in the 'near future'

The state Highway Patrol will likely have a K-9 program again soon.

In April, Bryan Beatty, secretary of the state Department of Crime Control and Public Safety, suspended the patrol's K-9 program after a hearing exposed rough obedience techniques such as shocking, suspending and kicking dogs.

Beatty ordered a review that would show what training techniques were used and how they compare to generally accepted practices. The patrol has 10 dogs that mostly sniff out drugs.

Lt. Everett Clendenin, a patrol spokesman, said Thursday that Major Jamie Hatcher, director of special operations for the patrol is conducting the review.

"We feel confident that the highway patrol in the near future will have a K-9 program once again," Clendenin said.

The patrol's dogs are still living with their trooper handlers, but instead of tracking drugs, the dogs are staying home, Clendenin said.

State administrative law Judge Fred Morrison called on the state in a written order to stop using dogs for law enforcement unless the state purchases dogs that already are trained and assigns them only to troopers who also are fully trained. In such cases, he said, the state also should give the troopers specific written compliance techniques for dealing with the dogs.