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Hazelwood Police Dogs Now Have Armor Gear
HAZELWOOD POLICE CANINE HANDLER MIKE MONTICELLI recently took time out to discuss the canine police program and pose for a photo with his dog, Onyxx.
BY JEANETTE EBERLIN RIZZELLO
The Hazelwood Police Department’s two police canines are sporting new garb these days. They are wearing bullet proof vests, funds for which were donated to the city by two major development firms, McEagle Properties and the Paric firm.
Police Canine Handler Mike Monticelli recently took time out to discuss the canine police program and pose for a photo with his dog, Onyxx. The other Hazelwood canine is Chaiver handled by Officer Brian Hale.
Monticelli said the bullet proof vests go from the dog’s neck to its tail.
“Both dogs are from Czechoslovakia, they are two years old, and they only respond to the officer’s commands said in the Czechslovakian language.”
“The dogs are personable and friendly unless otherwise directed by the handler,” Monticelli said, “they do an outstanding job and our department works with all the other police departments in St. Louis County.”
Both dogs are certified with the North American Police Dog Association and recently were given awards from the German Shepherd Club of St. Louis–Onyxx for tracking and Chaiver for narcotics seizure.
Officer Hale described some of the recent ways in which the dogs have
aided the officers.
“Both are dual purpose narcotic dogs,” he said, “they can do tracking for runaway kids, criminal apprehension, crowd control, area search, building search and evidentiary recovery, in addition to handler protection.”
Citing an example of crowd control, he said, “If perhaps there were a large unruly crowd, gathered around a trouble scene, say at the Mills Mall, the dogs can keep the crowd under control, which is an aid to the police officers.”
Our dogs can search for suspects, like in a large warehouse or building, and because they can check through odor, they can find the suspect faster and at a quicker pace than we can. This saves man-time and provides safety for the officers.”
If police go to a crime scene and the suspect has dropped a gun or stolen money, the dogs can find them right away, he added.
He described a recent incident where police had arrested a suspect, he ran into a house and the dog followed and found narcotics in the house.
Officer Hale added that the Hazelwood officers have done a lot of PR work regarding the canine program at schools and civic organizations such as the American Legion, Lions Club and others.
Hazelwood Police Chief Carl R. Wolf added: “The Hazelwood Police Department is greatful for the donation for the vests for the K-9 dogs. It is this type of partnership between the department and the business community, schools and neighborhoods which enables the department to provide professional police service and in keeping Hazelwood a safe place to live, work and play.”
