New York
For Training Tuesday, we’re introducing you to a Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island K-9 hard at work!
(Did you know USPP provides law enforcement, ensuring the safety of visitors, at these iconic NYC sites? If not, you do now!)
Meet Officer Jeter (yep, like the American League Baseball rookie of the year, five-time World Series champion, 14-time All-Star, and member of the Hall of Fame, “The Captain” Derek Jeter) and his partner Officer DelPrete. Jeter is a bad to the bone (in only good ways) three-year-old German Shorthaired Pointer who specializes in explosives detection.
A typical day of work for him includes sweeps at vehicle checkpoints, security screening facilities, ferry boats, etc. as well as investigating unattended property and suspicious packages.
The initial training for our K-9s to begin work is 10-14 months, then it is continuous to stay sharp. Our explosive detection dogs are specialized, trained in just this one discipline.
In case you’re wondering, yes, our K-9 officers live with their human partners/handlers, and it IS against agency policy for the public to pet them. But don’t worry, they get lots of love and treatos; they are just the consummate professionals while at work. That said, petting our K-9s is often allowable when we are at an official demonstration event at schools, etc. (just ask our officers – human AND K-9 – before reaching).
Visit with the Secretary of the Interior
Members of the United States Park Police in the WMA and NYFO had the honor of meeting Secretary Doug Burgum during recent site visits.
Wooden Flag of Valor (FOV), donated by the USPP Foundation to the New York Field Office (NYFO), and has been mounted in the Roll Call Room at Ellis Island.
