Hondo came to our department in the summer of 2005, a few months before we were to start official training. In the time between his arrival and the start of the training class, Hondo and I got to know one another.
At the time, I was assigned to Patrol and Hondo spent several shifts inside his crate which had been stuffed into the back seat of my squad car. When it was slow or time for a break, I took him out to practice our sits/stays/recalls.
One thing we really had to work on at the start was the recall, or the “Hey! Get back here!” and it didn’t help that all of Hondo’s commands were in Czech. Apparently, my pronunciation of the Czech language was horrible because Hondo would totally ignore me as he went in the opposite direction to sniff trees, chase squirrels etc.
To remedy this, I attached a 50 ft leash to Hondo’s collar. When he retrieved a thrown toy, I would hold the end of the leash and gently pull him back towards me giving him the English command. When he got back to my side I was full of praise, and he quickly figured out that when I called, “Here!” it meant he was to return to me.
One night I scouted out a good place to work on our recall and selected the grass field in front of an elementary school. You know the buildings – the ones that are three story brick structures with metal fire escapes up the sides, old growth evergreens sprinkled about the yard, lots of light? It was the perfect backdrop for our training, which went something like this:
hook 50 ft leash to Hondo’s collar
have Hondo remain in a sit at my side, with his attention drawn to the toy I was preparing to throw
throw the toy
give Hondo the command to fetch the toy
watch as Hondo breaks into a sprint
look down to see a loop of the 50ft leash wrapped around my left ankle
try to free my foot from the rapidly disappearing length of leash
realize I was not going to be quick enough and brace myself for impact
have my left leg snap up and forward
hop like mad on my right foot to try and stay upright
fail miserably at one-legged hopping
crash to the ground, flat on my back
get skidded across the grass for about 6 ft
have my dog come back to me, drop the toy on my head and sniff my face as if to ask what the heck I was doing lying down on the job
I started laughing, feeling like a complete idiot, but my guffaw must have sounded a bit winded as a tentative voice floated out over the night air from the direction of the fire escape, “Are you okay?”
Well, you would have though someone had stuck me with a hot poker. I sucked in a gasp, stopped laughing and looked around.
“We’re up here,” a second voice called from the direction of the fire escape.
Up near the top of the metal stairs were two teenagers, sitting side by side and watching the three-ring circus act unfolding before them. They waved when I spotted them. Oh dear. I waved back and let out another laugh as I picked myself up and untangled the leash from my leg.
“I’m fine, nothing hurt but my pride,” I called back, “It’s okay to laugh, you know, that must have looked pretty funny.”
“Yes, it did,” one of them said. “Can you do that again?”
Posted on February 26, 2010 by Sandra in Uncategorized
As we head in to the final weekend of the Olympics, I can not help but feel full of Canadian pride.
As a country we have done so well – from Joannie Rochette with her inspirational bronze medal performance less than a week after her mother suddenly passed away, to the women’s hockey victory with bringing home the gold (personally, I think it’s pretty cool the hockey team celebrated on the ice with a couple of cold ones). The Ice Dance left me breathtakingly speechless, and I was a bit teary when Alexendre Bilodeau took the podium for our first Gold. All the other medals leave me in awe of our athletes. Way to go Canada!
I’m a snowboarder so I can appreciate how insane those runs were – I would not willingly submit myself to the same course. After watching the bobsledding I thought that would be the uber-cool sport to train for – kind of like driving a police car Code Three but with a much smaller ‘vehicle’ and a much more difficult navigational requirement. I’m serious. Either that or the biathlon. How do you even get started in sports like these??
In any event, Canada currently leads 3-1 in the men’s hockey game against Slovakia, with less than seven minutes left in the third, and I’ve no more time to spend here as I really must go watch the rest of the game.
One aspect of this job that often comes as a surprise to the family and loved ones of police officers is the change that overcomes their officers in the hours leading up to the start of shift. No, the officers do not go through a science fiction style metamorphosis; instead officers likely exhibit subtle and sometimes not so subtle changes in personality.
My hubby calls it the ‘Ha Ha Factor’, as in I have none when I’m getting my game face on.
I’ve already mentioned in previous posts about preparing for this job. It is easy to tell if you are physically able to this job, because you’re either going to pass the physical test or not. You’re either fit enough to chase after a suspect and take him into custody, or you’re not. If you’re not, train harder and be prepared to make the permanent life style changes required. It’s pretty simple.
Mental preparation is different. You have to ask yourself several questions about your readiness and willingness to take action if called upon, but it’s even more involved than that.
Every day, BEFORE you leave your house to go to work, you should be mentally prepared. In much the same way an athlete psyches themselves up before a big game, you should be going through the same ritual. Not to be overly dramatic (okay, maybe I mean to), but you have to be in top mental condition because every time you put a uniform on you are making yourself a target for those who despise law enforcement. You need to be ever alert, ever watchful, and constantly aware of your surroundings. You need to find a balance and not become paranoid. You need to go home to your family at the end of your shift.
To illustrate this point I’ll use myself as an example and delve a bit deeper into the ‘Ha Ha Factor’.
When I’m working night shift I usually have the house to myself during the day. I’m able to go through my pre-work ritual – grocery shopping, prepare meals, have a nap, get up, have coffee, go for a work out, take a shower, eat breakfast while the family eats dinner, go to work. I’ve a very set routine and have been going through this ritual for years.
But on the occasions where hubby is around during the day he notices a big difference in my personality. He says I’m more serious, more focused and less likely to engage in conversation. He says I have no sense of ‘Ha Ha’ about anything. It’s not that I’m miserable, cranky, or being a you-know-what, it’s just that my ‘Ha Ha’ has taken leave in favour of my ’Game Face’.
At first, many years ago, hubby thought I was snubbing him and he got upset. I was a bit flabbergasted as nothing was further from the truth, and during the resulting discussion we came to a few conclusions:
Being a police officer requires mental alertness at all hours of the day
A police officer needs to go through the mental ‘What-if’s’ on a regular basis
A police officer needs to ‘get in the game’ long before it’s time to put on the uniform and get in the squad car
Sleep is NOT over rated
A sleepy officer is not an alert officer
An officer who is not alert is at a higher risk of getting hurt (for a multitude of reasons)
The family of an officer should recognize that the officer needs sleep and time to decompress
The officer needs to realize his/her family also needs attention, love, and understanding
In short, if an officer does not mentally prepare for the shift they may not come home from it.
When I put it like that, hubby got it.
Now, hubby understands my aloofness before a shift isn’t personal, it’s a necessity. He understands that in my mind, I am already hunting for the bad guy, already out-thinking the bad guy, already running though the possible scenarios of the upcoming twelve hours. He knows my well-being counts on it, and he has chosen to understand it and accept it. For that, I love him dearly.
Today was another rough day. After seeing a bit of improvement in him yesterday, Hondo took a step or two backwards this morning.
He’s now been admitted to the Animal Emergency Clinic. The staff have been amazing and very understanding – I’m sure they are used to dealing with distraught pet owners on a regular basis. If memory serves me correct, I fell into that category this afternoon.
Thank you for all the emails, phone calls and well-wishes for Hondo’s speedy recovery. On an inside note, it’s a real show of camaraderie when my fellow handlers check in on Hondo when I’m not there and then call to let me know how he’s doing.
All of your support is truly helpful and is very much appreciated. Thank you.
I’ll make sure to pass on the belly-rubs to Hondo for when he is feeling better.
Our calendar was full to the end of the month with regular shifts, overtime shifts and training.
Now, instead of working in uniform, I’m working with the veterinarian to ensure Hondo recovers from a sudden, nasty infection and the resulting complications. It’s a far more difficult job than the one I’m used to as I’ve not a medical bone in my body, but the excellent veterinary care combined with the love and nurturing my family and I are providing are sure to ease Hondo’s recovery.
It’s a hard thing, though, to see your partner in pain and to see the confusion in his eyes. It’s heartbreaking when your normally stoic dog whimpers and cries softly when he thinks no one is looking.
And I found myself right smack-dab in the middle of Vancouver.
As I’m working nearly every day until the end of the month, we figured today was the day to take the kids downtown to experience the Olympic ambiance. Tickets to sporting events were not in our plan (nor in our budget), but after spending the last few nights driving around the downtown core I knew there was still a lot for us to experience. We left early to beat the crowds but apparently that wasn’t a novel idea as we rubbed elbows with thousands.
We started with the Olympic Flame. The last time I was at the new Convention Center I marvelled at the beautiful structure but today I was a bit put off by the security fencing. Knowing there was a high chain-link fence enclosing the flame to protect it against vandals (the fencing story had been top news) I was expecting to only get within 30-50 feet of it. Imagine my surprise when we discovered the fencing was erected almost a full city block from the base of the flame!
Oh well – improvise, adapt, overcome. I managed to get the lense of my new camera between the chain-links, and snapped the following photo:
Olympic Flame
Our travels took us down Robson Street where the zinging of steel cables alerted us to the Zip-Line riders overhead. Zooming from one side of Robson Square to the other, high in the air and above the crowds, the riders screamed, squealed and yahoo’d themselves into the hearts of many. It looked like a blast, but the 1.5 hr wait was enough of a deterrent so we carried on.
We stopped at the Irish House (of course). All weekend long this place has absolutely rocked so I really wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Because we were early in the day the kids were allowed in, and they were exposed to their first bit of Celtic music. Very cool. We could have stayed there all day/night.
After extracting ourselves from the pull of the Irish we wound our way through Yaletown, a part of Vancouver I love. Even though it is very trendy, the old buildings are exquisite with breath taking architecture at every turn. The streets were packed with people, all of whom were in great spirit and displaying the colours of their countries.
Yaletown
And really, it isn’t a visit to downtown Vancouver unless there is hockey involved, the proof of which were barricades set up on one street to allow for a street hockey game.
Grown men with road hockey sticks, orange pucks/balls, and a lot of gusto were a crowd pleaser. It was awesome! We stayed and watched until the game was over, and even though I’m still unsure as to who won, it did not matter. The sportsmanship, camaraderie and great atmosphere were everything Vancouver. The best part of the game? When players or a member of the crowd yelled, “CAR!” and they scooted the net off to the side to allow the vehicle passage. It was quite nostalgic.
Street Hockey in Yaletown
All in all it was a great day. The only thing remotely police-related about this blog-post is that even though I saw dozens of police officers and stopped and talked to several, I saw no protesters.
Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms:
(a) freedom of conscience and religion;
(b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication;
(c) freedom of peaceful assembly; and
(d) freedom of association.
Be proud of your beliefs. Stand up and make your voice be heard. Gather together, march for your cause, and sing your allegiances.
But to hide behind the anonymity of a balaclava while wrecking havoc in the pursuit of your cause lessens the cause you are so desperately trying to support.
In all honesty, I’m a little worried about keeping everything balanced with a work schedule that includes only a couple of days off scattered through the rest of this month. At least I have a couple of days off – many of my co-workers are working straight through. The rest of this month is going to be a long haul, not just for officers and all others involved in various aspects of the Olympic Games but for their families as well.
For everyone there will need be to an added focus on their personal well being. Eat properly, make a point of exercising, get as much as sleep as humanly possible (I suspect sleep will be catch-as-catch-can), put time aside for recuperation, and enjoy the Olympics and all they are bringing to Vancouver. Yes, that does mean seeing some of the events and enjoying the festivities as well.
I’ll continue to post when I can, but for now I’m preparing for what the following days are going to bring.
Police dogs are motivated, driven and very intense. They love to work, to do as their handlers bid them, and in the case of my dog, to chase small furry creatures when mom isn’t looking.
Squirrels, cats, rodents – you name it. If it’s small and furry, my dog is interested. Unless, of course, I see the little critter first. Then it’s “Yes mom, okay mom, whatever you say mom. Me? Noooo, I didn’t even notice the squirrel/cat/rodent!”
We also have a cat at home. Hondo has learned the old black tom-cat is off limits, but it’s still a balancing act. We have to ‘clear the house’ when one or the other is coming inside to ensure the two do not meet, as I’ve seen the way my dog looks at the cat when he thinks I’m not paying attention.
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Two summers ago, PD Hondo and I responded to a break and enter. As we approached the victim residence I noticed two tabby cats sitting on a short cement wall adjacent to the path we were on. Knowing the cats might be a temporary distraction for my dog, I placed PD Hondo in a ‘down’ and went to shoo the cats away.
But the cats would have none of it. Instead, they wanted to play.
First, I tossed a small rock at them thinking the incoming missile would cause them to scatter. But no. The two cats batted the rock between them as if they had just been given a new present.
The next rock wasn’t hurled with such a gentle touch, but the end result was the same. Two cats playing ping-pong. I didn’t have the heart the really chuck one at them, so instead I advanced, withdrew my ASP baton and flicked it open, thinking the loud ratcheting noise would make them run off.
But again, no. The two felines sat up and took notice, and when I prodded them with my now extended baton they simply sat back on their haunches and pawed the end of the metal rod.
Great.
So I found a way around them, and soon PD Hondo and I were off on a track.
What I didn’t realise was that Feline #1 and his buddy, Feline #2, obviously thought we were their new playmates. As we tracked down one side of a thick hedge the cats, unbeknownst to me, kept pace with us on the other side. When we got to the end, Feline #1 jumped out in “Ta Dah!!” fashion, mere inches from the end of Hondo’s snout.
Hondo went for it. I yelled and pulled back on his leash, dragging my dog away from the friendly feline while at the same time admonishing my dog for being so foolish. I thought all was going to be okay as Feline #1 ran away, it’s tail straight upright in indignation. We were resuming with our track when Feline #2 intervened.
Have you seen the movie Shrek? You remember the character Puss-in-Boots? Then you know what we faced.
With an ear splitting yeowl, Feline #2 launched and firmly attached itself to Hondo’s head. All twenty claws grabbed purchase in my dog’s thick coat and the damn kitty hung on for what equated to an eight second ride.
Hondo went completely crazy, thrashing his head around, snapping his jaws, spit flying everywhere as he tried to get the demon off of his head. I worked my way up the line, grabbed Hondo’s collar to control his head, and used my boot to pry the cat off. The cat jumped in the way only cats can, and landed a few feet off to the side.
Instantly, the little bugger puffed itself up, turned sideways, arched its back, and advanced on us in short, stiff-legged bursts of speed. I retreated backwards down the sidewalk, yanking Hondo with me, knowing that if he got a hold of the cat all nine of its lives with be used up in one fell swoop. If anything, the cat was a good example of how to use cover, as it darted from the tree on one side of the walkway to the mail box on the other side, while springing forward every few seconds on it’s hind legs to swish it’s front paws around in Kung-Fu Kitty fashion. I wasn’t sure if I should laugh or pepper spray the little guy – I was a bit worried it was going to bite me on one of its runs at my legs.
I ended up laughing, admiring the cats fearless protection of its partner. With some degree of respect, I waited for the feline to walk away, which it did quite suddenly as if it had decided we were no longer worth the effort.
As the cat disappeared into the dark with a flick of it’s tail, Hondo and gathered ourselves together. I took a look around to make sure no one had caught the entire episode on film and was relieved to see the caterwauling and dog growls had not awoken anyone.
It’s one thing for me to tell the story but to have actual footage? How embarrassing!
Posted on February 9, 2010 by Sandra in Recruiting
There have been several emails in my inbox with questions about the physical side of law enforcement, and what potential recruits can do to prepare themselves.
There is the need to be strong enough, fast enough, and fit enough to do the job – yes, you do need to be all of these things. Different sections within the department have different physical requirements, with patrol, Dog Squad and the Emergency Response Team having the most obvious need for their members to be physically fit.
A patrol officer has to be able to chase after and physically subdue (if required) a fleeing suspect. The physical test, which includes the Police Officer’s Physical Abilities Test (POPAT), is specifically designed to test an applicants ability to do this.
A Dog Squad officer has the added requirement of being able to lift their dog over an obstacle and scale that same obstacle themselves, as well as be able to contort themselves into places where their dog leads them, whether it be a culvert, through a blackberry patch, or up the side of a mountain. They have to be able to keep up with their dog, sometimes for several kilometers through harsh terrain.
Then the Emergency Response Team officer, who must meet all of the above requirements, has the added need to be able to carry X pounds of gear, various firearms, and emergency supplies/equipment while still being able to be mentally alert. These officers are held to the highest physical standard – as they should be. Their training courses are intense (I can vouch for that, having taken part in one of the courses – the course kicked my butt, but was some of the best training I’ve ever had) and not for the faint of heart.
So, what does an applicant do to prepare themselves for the POPAT?
First, understand that you have to be able to run 2.4 kilometers (1.5 miles) in under twelve minutes. You also have to complete the POPAT in under four minutes and fifteen seconds. Here is a video of Vancouver Police Chief Jim Chu explaining the POPAT and running through it himself:
How do you train for these? Start running. Time yourself. Run the Sea Wall if you can, and follow the route the actual test takes – one and a half times around Brocton Oval, down to the Sea Wall, then West on the Sea Wall, past the Lighthouse, finishing at a big tree stump even with the North entrance to Brocton Oval. If you can not run the distance in under twelve minutes, train harder.
As for the POPAT, the VPD offers drop-in sessions for current applicants. If you cannot make it to one of these sessions, then start cross training. Do stairs, sit-ups, crunches and any interval training you can think of. Train hard because the harder you train, the easier the test will be.
You do not to be a ‘naturally gifted athlete’. Instead, you need to be a person who is willing and able to train hard, to push yourself, and to take constructive criticism about what you can do better. One of the best feelings in the world is to know you have done your absolute best and excelled because of it.
