Law enforcement from throughout the state receive K9 training kits
BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. (WBOY) — Saturday morning the Hotsinpiller Foundation gave K9 drug detection training kits to West Virginia police departments throughout the state.
In each kit are TADD's, or Training Aid Delivery Devices, that samples just the smells of illicit drugs. These TADD's allow K9 handlers to train their dogs to identify smells of illicit drugs without running the risk of exposing canine or human to the substances themselves.
The Hotsinpiller Foundation made it possible to provide 16 of these kits in total, each of them having a TADD for MDMA, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana and fentanyl.
Veterans Service Fair hosted in Shinnston
One recipient of the kits was the Harrison County Sheriff's Office. Sergeant Ryan Harris is the K9 Team Coordinator for the Sheriff's Office and told 12 News that at times they will use the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) issued substances, but that the TADD's are a lot easier to manage.
'I'm really excited about the kits honestly,' Harris said. 'These are high-quality training aids and they're a lot safer than using your standard training aids from the DEA which is real controlled dangerous substances.'
The Hotspinpiller Foundation was started with the goal of supporting law enforcement in memory of Derek Hotsinpiller, a US Marshal killed in the line of duty, as well as the late James William Hotsinpiller, who served the city of Bridgeport for 27 years. Their main fundraiser is their annual 5K which will be held on June 7 in Bridgeport City Park.
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