FCC Sniffs Its Way to MDOC Tracking Dog Team Title
On October 3 and 4, 2007, Missouri Department of Corrections Institutional Tracking Dog Teams competed in the First Annual Tracking Dog Competition. Handlers with their most reliable bloodhounds represented teams from Algoa Correctional Center (ACC), Farmington Correctional Center (FCC), Northeast Correctional Center (NECC), Ozark Correctional Center (OCC) and Western Missouri Correctional Center (WMCC). The training competition was held at Camp Pin Oak, a state park at the Lake of the Ozarks.
"It's a training component, the value of what they've shared and learned from each other," said Dwayne Kempker, Superintendent at ACC. "It's self appraising; are they performing as well as they think they are? Do they need to improve? Are the dogs ready?"
The competition was hosted by the ACC's Tracking Dog Team and their Emergency Squad. Bloodhounds and handlers were judged and timed as they tracked both daytime and nighttime pre-laid trails while collecting simulated evidentiary items along the way.
"It was great; we need to do more of it. A competition like this needs to happen annually if not every six months," said Ron Baker, CO I and Team Leader of FCC Dog Team.
CO I Lindell Moore and Annie, along with CO I Carl Miller and Sadie from FCC, earned first place honors with ACC placing second, WMCC taking third, NECC claiming fourth and OCC landing in fifth place. Kempker presented plaques to the winning teams during a brief closing ceremony, followed by a barbecue lunch prepared by Major Roger Terry and Captain Joe Jimmerson.
"It boils down to time and life-saving missions. The more training they get, the better prepared they are," said Kempker.
Tracking Dog Teams search for escaped offenders and when requested they also participate in searches for runaways, small children or elderly that may have wandered away.
In mid-October, the ACC Dog Team was called out by the Osage County Sheriff's Department and participated in the search for a missing two-year-old toddler in the Belle area.
"There were a lot of Corrections employees involved in that search. They did a great job and put in a lot of hours. They represented the Department well," said Mike Nash, Parole Analyst and Red Cross volunteer.
The toddler was found alive near the Osage/Maries county line.
"The FCC Dog Team was called out in mid-October by the Sheriff's Department's in Wayne and Reynolds counties to aid in searches," Baker told the Horizon.
All participating team members enjoyed sharing secrets, passed along training techniques and developed a camaraderie that should benefit them in future exercises and deployments.
"We appreciate Superintendent Kempker and the ACC E-Squad for putting the whole thing together," Baker said.
Predictions and verbal jousting are already underway about who will be crowned champion when the teams hope to compete in the Second Annual Tracking Dog Competition.
"It translates into saving lives," Kempker said.
Participating Dog Team Members:
ACC Team:
*LT. Richard Prenger
CO I Ken Reiter and Abbey
CO I Jim Ricker
SGT. Jim Wehmeyer and Cody
SGT. Matt Whittle and Jake
SGT. Justin Wyatt and Jed
ACC E – Squad in Attendance:
Jeff Bolte
Coty Pease
Charlie Davis
Luke Peery
Justin Franken
Dave Rothenay
Mike Hanafusa
Jeremy Robertson
Sharon Hudelson
Dave Scheffield
Milton Neal
Andrew Schneider
FCC Team:
*CO I Ron Baker
CO I Doug Beard
CO I Jason Matkin and Lucy
CO I Carl Miller and Sadie
CO I Lindell Moore and Annie
NECC Team:
SGT. James Barnes and Molly
SGT. Gary Cox
*SGT. Aaron Dowell
SGT. Jeremy Hansen and Sadie Mae
CO I George Wong
OCC Team:
CO I Jack Antoszewski and Roxie
*SGT. Charles Baker
CO I Randy Burton
CO I David Martin and Leo
CO I Tim Stout
WMCC Team:
*CO I Dale Cox
CO I Gerry Harrison and Betty Lou
SGT. Mike Penland and Mandi
CO I Brian Williams
LT. Rock Youngs
* Team Leader
A memorial was on display of three Missouri Department of Corrections Tracking Dog.
Team members who recently passed away:
Captain Thomas Davis – ACC (May 25, 2007)
CCA Richard Chapman – OCC (June 28, 2007)
CO I Scott Codding – OCC (June 5, 2007)
They will be greatly missed by all.
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