Learn more about RTA K-9 teams

Duties and responsibilities

• Seven teams of officer (handler) and K-9 (canine), one team of dual-purpose training
• Explosive detection on trains, buses, and all RTA property
• Assist Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response (VIPR) Team
• Assist Anti-Terrorism Team
• Help neighboring communities that don’t have dedicated explosive detection teams
• Dogs live with their handlers and are part of their families
• RTA maintains the seven teams on-call for around-the-clock incident response

TSA teams

• Trained by Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX
  • Initial training is 10 weeks
  • Require three- to four-day annual re-certification
• Part of TSA National Explosion Detection K-9 Team Program
• TSA provides approximately $50,500/year for seven of the K-9 teams
• Used for explosives detection; also monitoring/patrolling the safety of passengers on RTA

Dual-Purpose team

• Certified from the State of Ohio 
• Certified nationally by North American Police Work Dog Association (NAPWDA)
• Used for explosive odor detection, patrol, tracking and aggression and building and area search
• Purchased by RTA