There are two primary methods for using explosive detection canines in security management. The first is having a full time canine asset for facilities with a high level of risk. The second is the employment of local law enforcement response teams for lower risk level facilities.

There are many advantages to having dedicated full time assets available. Dedicated teams will be very familiar with your site and you will be familiar with the teams. Teams can be used proactively to screen deliveries, perform perimeter checks, evaluate abandoned packages, support dignitaries and provide a high level of deterrence. However, the risk faced by most organizations cannot justify the cost of having full time assets on site.

Most security professionals rely on law enforcement response teams which are dispatched as part of the response to a threat. This is normal, cost efficient and meets most standards of care. But without a little preplanning, this reactive approach can have less than perfect results. So how can you increase the effectiveness of utilizing a local law enforcement response team?

Invite your law enforcement team out to train at your facility. You will meet them, they will meet you and they will get to know your site. Give them the VIP tour and get them involved.

Get the law enforcement team involved with security exercises when possible. Even if the exercise does not involve explosives, the handler will normally be happy to contribute as a law enforcement professional.

Observe canine operation during training. Know what you can do to assist operations in an emergency (perimeter control, access, chemical storage information, etc). As importantly, know what will not be helpful in an emergency.

Most public sector teams are seriously cash strapped. They may be short on everything from professional membership fees to dog food. Try to make a donation to the team. Some corporate entities have even gone so far as to fund a law enforcement team from beginning to end, but anything will help.

Have a plan which considers the limitations that are inherent in canine teams. These may include search time, temperature, time required in relation to the size of the area to be searched, effective height, etc.

Understand that no matter how good the team is, some explosives (such as "bottle bombs" and many improvised compounds) may be undetectable to the team. Some teams train on fewer odors than others. Additionally, some teams train on limited quantities and may not have a lot of access to new or varied materials. This means that even thought the team has swept an area, it may not be free from explosive devices. Plan accordingly.

Be patient in an emergency. A typical two story office building will take a few hours to completely sweep. Remember, a canine can only work for a certain period of time before it needs to rest, and a good search is not as fast as some people think.

Full confidence in the capabilities of a canine explosive detection team can only be acquired by spending time with the team. Take the time to work with the assets in your area prior to an emergency.

Edward J. Seuter, president of Explosive Countermeasures International, Inc., Marshall Virginia, is a Senior Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician, a licensed blaster, a naval trained diver, and a Virginia DCJS Certified Private Security Services Instructor. Mr. Seuter is an active member of the American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS), the International Association of Bomb Technicians and Investigators (IABTI) and the International Society of Explosive Engineers (SEE). He can be reached at 540.364.6900 or eseuter@nobombs.net.