Eyewitness News rides shotgun with the UPD K-9 Unit
By: Chelsea Rarrick
Updated: April 6, 2012
We see them patrolling the streets everyday, but how often do you come across a four legged officer?
Eyewitness News rode shot gun with a K-9 Officer and his partner Rex Friday afternoon.
Officer Rex has only been in the business for about a year, but you could say him and his partner are pretty much pros.
Rex is an Explosion Detection K-9, and trained to be on the hunt for items like bombs and guns.
"We're very close. He lives in the house with me, when he gets home with me he's just a pet," said Officer Faniglula.
3-year-old Rex might be a "pet of some sorts" by day, but come nightfall, it's a whole different story.
"As soon as he hears the car start he knows that he's going to work. He'll start going crazy in the garage and getting ready to go to work, put him in the car and it's like a switch," he said.
Once that switch is on, it's time for the two to get to work.
"We go out on the streets and patrol, and get involved as much as we can. We don't have a specific zone in the city that we have to patrol," he said.
After a few hours into the shift, it was already time for Officer Faniglula to make a stop.
In this case, Officer Rex's special skills weren't needed.
But just because Rex was needed this time, doesn't mean he's not put to the test.
"When we do a scent detection, his main reward is the toy. When we do the patrol work, his reward is getting to bite someone, getting to bite, apprehend the person or the suspect," said Officer Faniglula.
And although it might not have been a "real life" situation, Officer Rex passed his test with Eyewitness News with flying colors.
"It's rewarding when he does what he's supposed to do....there's a lot of time and a lot of effort that's put into the training, and it's nice to see it pay off," he said.
Eyewitness News rode shot gun with a K-9 Officer and his partner Rex Friday afternoon.
Officer Rex has only been in the business for about a year, but you could say him and his partner are pretty much pros.
Rex is an Explosion Detection K-9, and trained to be on the hunt for items like bombs and guns.
"We're very close. He lives in the house with me, when he gets home with me he's just a pet," said Officer Faniglula.
3-year-old Rex might be a "pet of some sorts" by day, but come nightfall, it's a whole different story.
"As soon as he hears the car start he knows that he's going to work. He'll start going crazy in the garage and getting ready to go to work, put him in the car and it's like a switch," he said.
Once that switch is on, it's time for the two to get to work.
"We go out on the streets and patrol, and get involved as much as we can. We don't have a specific zone in the city that we have to patrol," he said.
After a few hours into the shift, it was already time for Officer Faniglula to make a stop.
In this case, Officer Rex's special skills weren't needed.
But just because Rex was needed this time, doesn't mean he's not put to the test.
"When we do a scent detection, his main reward is the toy. When we do the patrol work, his reward is getting to bite someone, getting to bite, apprehend the person or the suspect," said Officer Faniglula.
And although it might not have been a "real life" situation, Officer Rex passed his test with Eyewitness News with flying colors.
"It's rewarding when he does what he's supposed to do....there's a lot of time and a lot of effort that's put into the training, and it's nice to see it pay off," he said.
