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Canine (K9) Operations

The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Canine (K9) Operations program provides dedicated protective, investigative, and enforcement K9 support to U.S. Marshals Service missions.

Tactical Canines (TK9) - Dart and Frago

Mission

Since 2000, the U.S. Marshals Service, Operations Support Division, Canine (K9) Operations Program has made strong and steady growth. The program started through our partnership with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) who founded the National Canine Training Branch for explosive detection and arson detection canines. Prior to 2000, the agency relied on local, state, and other federal K9 units for support. Although the assistance was appreciated, it did not offer the dedicated support needed for USMS specific missions. The USMS now has 22 Explosive Detection K9 (EK9) Teams and 6 Tactical K9 (TK9) Teams nationwide located in districts and divisions where they bring incredibly valuable service to the USMS and our mission partners. K9 Operations now provides dedicated protective, investigative, and enforcement K9 support to USMS missions making it possible to cover a very wide scope of responsibilities with these two types of K9 assets (EK9 and TK9).

K9 Assets Overview

We define K9 Assets as the types of canines we may use for the diverse USMS missions they serve. The USMS currently has two types of detection canines, one that detects explosive odors, Explosive Detection K9 (EK9), and the other that detects human odor, Tactical K9 (TK9). Here we will describe the two different assets, their training and how they work.

Explosive Detection Canine (EK9) Operations

The EK9 Teams provide dedicated support for explosives and firearms detection for USMS protective, investigative, and enforcement missions while also supporting other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Our EK9 Teams provide a strong visible and psychological deterrent against criminal and terrorist threats at USMS facilities, U.S. Federal Courts, and many other large venues. EK9 Operations and countermeasure support includes, but is not limited to, judicial conferences, high-threat trials, enforcement operations, and evidentiary searches (i.e. terrorism cases, homicide evidence recovery). The EK9 Basic Handler Course lasts 16 weeks and is conducted at the ATF National Canine Training Center, Front Royal, VA.

The ATF uses Labrador Retrievers that were often originally breed for service work, such as guide dogs for the blind. If dogs do not meet the requirements for their expected service, they are tested and evaluated for detection work in law enforcement. Our EK9s are trained on the food reward methodology and trained to detect thousands of different combinations of explosives.

To meet USMS mission specific needs, in 2015 we took things a step further and developed Specialized Search Dog (SSD) training. SSD K9s are trained by USMS trainers to detect explosives and firearms on people. This ability provides additional screening and searching capability during high threat missions and preventative techniques at National Security Events. We also go above and beyond in our training methodology with the handlers.

Tactical Canine (TK9) Operations

In 2015, the Tactical K9 (TK9) Operations asset was established.  USMS K9 team consists of a highly trained K9 and a Deputy U.S. Marshal (DUSM) handler. The USMS TK9 provides tactical K9 resources that are specifically trained to conduct USMS enforcement operations in accordance with USMS policies and standard operating procedures. These teams are familiar with, and integrated into, USMS enforcement operations.  TK9s are shepherd breeds trained in-house by USMS K9 trainers.  TK9s have camera systems that provide investigators the ability to “see" what the K9 is seeing remotely.

The primary purpose of the TK9s is to: 

  • Increase the safety of the public, mitigate risks to law enforcement officials, as well as suspects during USMS field operations, i.e. high-risk and critical incident operations.
  • Support USMS fugitive apprehension operations.
    • During these operations the TK9s would be used primarily as a search tool. The USMS can use the TK9s to identify the presence of a suspect in an un-cleared room; this would prevent investigators and task force officers from having to expose themselves to an unknown threat. This information could be used by investigators to apprehend a suspect or clear a residence in an alternate manner.
  • The TK9s could also be used around the perimeter to alert of suspects attempting to enter or exit an operational area
  • Tracking - Fugitives or suspects who evade arrest can be tracked in both urban and rural environments. TK9s can be used to track, locate, and contain suspects before they can cause harm to the public.

Purple Heart dog with a certificate

A Canine dog looking away

Purple Heart K9 Dog