MSP K-9 teams responded to over 300 calls in Northern Michigan last year

GAYLORD — It takes months and can cost up to $15,000 to properly train a police dog, and if you ask Michigan State Police Trooper Charles Scruggs of the Alpena post if it is worth it, he will tell about this incident.

"The dogs can really help out in locating a missing child. Recently we had to track a missing four-year old autistic child (that had limited communication skills). My dog was able to read his scent off of the ground we were able to find the child within 30 minutes," Scruggs said.

Scruggs is one of 41 state police handlers for 60 dogs statewide that includes three handlers and five dogs in Northern Michigan at the Alpena, Houghton Lake and Traverse City posts. MSP Lieutenant Derrick Carroll said the Northern Michigan canines and their handlers responded to 334 calls last year and "we are likely to exceed that this year."

Scruggs said the department locates dogs who may be good candidates for the unit and most are Belgian Malinois or German shepherds.

"The departments does evaluations on the dogs before they buy them to see if they can make it through our canine academy. Once they enter the academy we select our dogs by seniority," said Scruggs.

Once in the canine academy, the dogs and the officers work on developing a rapport or bond.

"For the first month you focus on bonding with the dog by taking them for walks and feeding them. Once bonded you go to a field with someone else and take the dog off of its leash. You walk down the field and call the dog and it should come directly to you and not the other person," Scruggs said.

Scruggs' dog is a shepherd named "Waco" and they have been together for about a year. The dog is trained in search and rescue and in Waco's case also narcotics identification.

"My dog sniffs for heroin, meth (methamphetamines), crack and cocaine. He is also trained to protect me, himself or any citizen that is in need of protection," he said.

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Not only can the dogs smell drugs and bombs, some are trained to detect the odor of a chemical compound called triphenylphosphine oxide that is used in the production of devices like hard drives and microchips.

Scruggs said his dog is instinctive when it come to certain situations.

"He is guided by the tone of my voice. If I find someone and I start yelling at them, he will let the person know it is time to give up," Scruggs said.

The dog lives with Scruggs and his wife.

"He gets along well with my wife and the two other dogs we have at home. He gets to hang out with my Labs in the back yard," he said.

Once the dog's police career is over, handlers can keep the dog, according to Carroll.

— Contact Paul Welitzkin at pwelitzkin@gaylordheraldtimes.com .

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: MSP K-9 teams responded to over 300 calls in Northern Michigan last year