시체 개는 호주에서 가장 전문화된 개입니다. 그들의 훈련에는 무엇이 관련되어 있습니까?

경찰관 마크 카밀레리가 아는 한 가지는 인간의 가장 친한 친구의 능력을 과소평가하는 것이 아니라는 것입니다.

뉴사우스웨일즈 경찰의 전 조련사이자 현재 사체 탐지견 조련사인 그는 전문견의 예리한 후각과 수색을 직접 완료하겠다는 의지를 보았습니다.

그는 또한 이것이 가장 어려운 시기에 가족에게 제공할 수 있는 폐쇄를 보았습니다.

“수풀 속에서 실종된 사람들이 있는 가족들을 돕고 위안을 찾으려고 노력하는 것은 항상 특권이었습니다.

“상당히 맞설 수 있습니다.”

고도로 전문화된 치안 지역인 뉴사우스웨일즈는 사체 탐지견 능력을 갖춘 호주의 두 개 주 중 하나이며 다른 하나는 퀸즐랜드입니다.

그 결과 지난 달 태즈매니아에서 뉴사우스웨일즈 경찰 사체 개 Wags와 조련사가 태즈매니아 북부에서 실종된 십대 Shyanne-Lee Tatnell을 찾는 데 도움을 주기 위해 비행기를 타고 왔을 때 이 작업은 종종 주간 배치와 함께 제공됩니다.

같은 개는 실종된 벨기에 관광객 셀린 크레머(Celine Cremer)를 찾기 위해 주의 외딴 북서쪽에 있는 와라타(Waratah)로 이송되었습니다.

그렇다면 왜 이 분야가 그렇게 전문화되어 있을까요?

4년, 270회 배포

경찰이 실종자를 수색하는 동안 사용할 수 있는 핵심 도구는 의심되는 사고로 인해 또는 종종 의심스러운 상황에서 의심되는 상황에서 뉴사우스웨일스 사체 탐지견 코호트가 3마리의 배치 가능한 개로 구성되어 있으며 다른 개는 현재 훈련 중입니다. , 수석 경호 Camilleri가 말했다.

서류상으로는 적은 숫자일 수 있지만, 이는 부대가 받은 배치 수와 일치하며 자체 역량을 구축할 필요가 있는지 여부는 개별적으로 결정하는 주에 달려 있다고 그는 말했습니다.

“지난 4년 동안 우리는 270개 이상의 배치를 수행했습니다.”라고 Camilleri 경위가 말했습니다.

“그것은 주간도 포함하기 때문에 우리는 일반적으로 운영 수준에서 [우리가] 얼마나 많은 개를 가지고 있는지 기반으로 합니다.”

그러나, 작지만 엄격하고 지속적인 훈련을 받은 개의 기술은 강력합니다.

카밀레리 경위는 처음에 개들이 실제 시나리오를 시뮬레이션하도록 설계된 다양한 환경에서 인간과 유골의 냄새를 감지하는 방법을 배우는 8~12주간의 지속적인 훈련이 필요하다고 말했습니다.

이러한 환경은 빽빽한 숲지대에서 습한 습지 환경, 개방된 잔디 지역에서 건물에 이르기까지 다양할 수 있으며, 현장에 있을 때 사체 개 팀에게 필요한 기술과 경험을 제공하기 위해 다양한 “악취 훈련 도구”가 사용됩니다.

이를 완료하면 정해진 기준을 충족해야 합니다. 매년 재인증이 필요하고 기술이 유지되고 탐지 능력이 향상되도록 연중 계속되는 정기적인 교육이 필요합니다.

카밀레리 상급경관은 핸들러도 마찬가지로 인증을 유지하기 위해 높은 기준을 충족해야 한다고 말했습니다.

“일반적으로 핸들러는 시체 탐지견 핸들러가 되기 전에 다른 기능에 대한 교육을 받기 때문에 [그] 지점에 도달하기 전에 수년간의 경험이 있습니다.

“그리고 우리는 그들이 매년 충족해야 하고 교육 완료 시 충족해야 하는 인증 기준을 설정했습니다.”

그는 피트니스를 유지하는 것도 중요하다고 말했습니다. 핸들러와 개가 수색하는 동안 종종 광범위하고 어려운 영역을 샅샅이 뒤지기 때문입니다.

“[경찰견] 핸들러가 적합합니다… 사체 핸들러, 아마도 한 단계 위일 것입니다.”

성공에 필수적인 핸들러-개 유대감
그러나 개가 사체 탐지 작업에 적합한지 판단할 때 중요한 것은 훈련만이 아닙니다.

순종과 민첩성과 함께 타고난 인내와 강력한 플레이 드라이브도 필요하다고 카밀레리 경감은 말했다. 긴 스트레칭이 될 수 있습니다.

“그들은 수준이 높아야 하고 5분 동안 뛰어도 그늘에 앉지 않을 개는 오랫동안 일해야 합니다.”라고 그는 말했습니다.

“분명히, 그들의 조련사는 그들의 피로를 관리할 것입니다… 하지만 그들은 일반적으로 하루 종일 기꺼이 버티는 매우 높은 추진력을 가진 개입니다.”

개와 조련사 사이의 유대감도 중요한 요소입니다. 조련사는 특정 개와 짝을 이루어 작업 경력을 쌓고 대부분의 경우 은퇴 시 그 가족과 함께 지냅니다.

카밀레리 경위는 “개를 다루는 사람은 개가 덤불 속으로 들어가 돌아오지 않고 제 역할을 다할 것이라고 믿어야 한다”고 말했다.

“하지만 [역시] 개가 갇히게 되면 조련사가 도와줄 것이라는 믿음이 있어야 합니다.

“검색을 통과하기 위해 함께 강한 유대가 필요한 백만 가지 시나리오를 생각해 낼 수 있습니다.

“그 유대감은 팀이 성공하기 위해 매우 중요합니다.”

개와 손잡이에 대한 신체적, 정신적 요구

어
유사하게 카밀레리 상급경관은 시신견 부대의 일원이 되는 것이 모든 경찰관에게 적합하지 않을 것이며 그 역할은 종종 육체적으로나 감정적으로 부담이 된다고 말했습니다.

그는 “수색하는 동안 정신적으로 지칠 뿐만 아니라 하루 종일 배치하는 것이 아니라 2, 3, 4일을 할 수도 있기 때문에 하루 종일 육체적으로 지친다”고 말했다.

“그리고 살인 사건 수사가 진행되는 문제에 대해 이야기할 때 핸들러와 팀이 직면하는 또 다른 수준의 압력이 분명히 있습니다.”

그러나 그는 개인적인 경험에 비추어 볼 때 가족 폐쇄를 제공하는 데 도움을 줄 수 있는 기회가 그만한 가치가 있다고 말했습니다.

“당신은 그것에 대한 열정이 있어야 합니다. 그것은 힘든 일입니다.”

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Cadaver dogs are some of Australia’s most specialised canines. What’s involved in their training?

By Meg Whitfield

Posted 3h ago3 hours ago, updated 1h ago1 hours ago

Cadaver dog in Tasmania — NSW Police officer Mark Camilleri with a cadaver dog during a search in Tasmania.(ABC News: Laura Beavis)

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If there’s one thing police officer Mark Camilleri knows, it’s not to underestimate the abilities of man’s best friend.

A former handler and now cadaver detection dog trainer with New South Wales Police, he’s seen the specialised canine’s keen sense of smell and commitment to completing a search first-hand.

He’s also seen the closure this can provide families during some of their most difficult times.

“It was always a privilege being able to assist, trying to find comfort for families, who had people missing out there in the bush.

“It can be pretty confronting.”

A small brown and white dog on a leesh amongst the legs of police. — NSW Police cadaver dog Wags was loaned to Tasmania and assisted on a number of searches recently.(ABC News: Manika Champ )

Cadaver dog helps in search

A NSW Police cadaver dog brought into Tasmania to help with the search for Shyanne-Lee Tatnell is repurposed to look for missing Belgian tourist Celine Cremer.

A highly specialised policing area, New South Wales is one of only two states in Australia with a cadaver detection dog capability — the other being Queensland.

As a result, the job often comes with interstate deployments, as seen last month in Tasmania when New South Wales Police cadaver dog Wags and handler were flown in to assist in the search for missing teenager Shyanne-Lee Tatnell in Tasmania’s north.

The same dog was then transported to Waratah, in the state’s remote north-west, to search for missing Belgian tourist Celine Cremer.

So why is this field so specialised?

muddy black and white dog with a police collar in the bush — Dogs must undergo re-accreditation annually, with regular training continuing to ensure their skills are maintained.(Supplied: NSW Police )

Four years, 270 deployments

Someone knows what happened to Helen

Young mother Helen Munnings was pregnant with her second child when she disappeared without a trace. A coronial inquest failed to shed much light on the case — but 15 years on, Tasmania Police are convinced someone knows something.

A key tool that can be utilised by police during searches for missing people — be that due to suspected misadventure, or, often, under suspected suspicious circumstances — the New South Wales cadaver detection dog cohort consists of three deployable dogs, with another currently in training, Leading Senior Constable Camilleri said.

While that might be a small number on paper, he said, this matched the number of deployments the unit received — with it up to states individually to determine whether there was need for their own capacity to be established.

“Over the last four years, we’ve done 270 plus deployments,” Senior Constable Camilleri said.

“That includes interstate as well, so we normally base how many dogs [we have] on an operational level.”

A black labrador, two yellow labs and a springer spaniel sit to attention in a paddock. — There is no set breed, or sex of dog, which are best suited to being cadaver dogs — it comes down to the individual animal.(Supplied: NSW Police)

However, while small, the skills of the dogs are mighty — with rigorous and ongoing training undertaken.

Initially, Senior Constable Camilleri said, this involved eight to 12 weeks of continuous training, where the dogs learn to detect odours of human and skeletal remains across a range of environments, designed to simulate real life scenarios.

These settings, he said, can range from dense bushland to wet marsh environments, open grass areas to buildings — with a variety of “odour training aids” employed to give the cadaver dog teams the necessary skills and experience for when out in the field.

Upon completion of this, they have to meet a set standard — with re-accreditation required annually, and regular training continuing throughout the year to ensure their skills are being maintained and their detection abilities improved.

The cutest brown puppy in the arms of a NSW police person, little white paws on show — The right candidates need to be highly motivated and “willing to persist all day”, a police dog handler says.(Supplied: NSW Police )

The handlers similarly have to meet high standards in order to maintain their accreditation, Senior Constable Camilleri said.

“Generally, the handlers are trained in other capabilities prior to them becoming cadaver detection dog handlers, so they have years of experience before they get to [that] point.

“And then we have a set criteria for accreditation that they must meet every year and must meet at the completion of their training.”

Maintaining fitness, he said, is also key — with the areas that handlers and their dogs scour during searches often vast, and challenging.

“[Police dog] handlers are fit … cadaver handlers, probably a step above.”

Handler-dog bond vital for success

However, it’s not just training that comes into play when determining if a dog is suitable for cadaver detection work.

Along with obedience and agility, an innate perseverance and strong play-drive is also needed, Senior Constable Camilleri said, with the drive for a reward at the end of a search needing to be a significantly motivating factor for the dogs to stay engaged for what can be long stretches.

“They need to be of a high standard, and a dog that’s not going to sit down in the shade after five minutes of running around — they’re working for long periods of time,” he said.

“Obviously, their handlers will manage their fatigue … but they’re usually very high-drive dogs willing to persist all day.”

Two black dogs play in the snow and one white dog with brown ears runs towards the camera with tongue out — NSW Police cadaver dogs Toby, Rachey and Ree take a break in the snow.(Supplied: NSW Police )

The bond between dog and handler is also a critical element, with handlers paired up with a specific dog for its working career — and, for the most part, staying with that family upon their retirement.

“The handler needs to trust that the dog is going to be doing its job, not going off into bushes and not coming back,” Senior Constable Camilleri said.

“But then, [there also needs to be] trust from the dog that the handler is going to be there to help them if they get stuck.

“You could come up with a million scenarios of them needing a strong bond together to get through a search.

“That bond is crucial, for the team to be successful.”

Demanding, physically and mentally on dog and handler

Similarly, Senior Constable Camilleri said, being a part of the cadaver dog unit isn’t going to be the right fit for all police officers, with the role often both physically and emotionally taxing.

“During a search, you’re not only mentally exhausted, you’re physically exhausted throughout the day because you’re not just deploying for one day — you might be doing two, three, four days,” he said.

“And then when you’re talking about matters where this is now a homicide investigation, it’s certainly another level of pressure that the handler and the team face.”

But, he said, speaking from personal experience, the chance of being able to help provide a family closure made it all worth it.

“You’ve got to have a passion for it. It is tough.”

Craig Murray with dog. — Craig Murray says with the pride for a successful search comes knowledge “this is going to cause someone pain and grief”.(Supplied: Dog School)

Giving people ‘closure’ a big part of the job

The highs and the lows of the job are something specialist dog trainer — and former private cadaver dog trainer — Craig Murray knows well.

Having worked in the space largely before Australian police forces had their own well-established cadaver dog capabilities, he said the memories of being out in the field, assisting with missing persons searches right across Australia, would always stick with him.

“When you find a person, you’re elated,” he said. “But if you’ve found a body, or evidence of a body, it’s a conflict.

“It’s a conflict there in that fact that I’ve done my job, my dog’s done really well, I’m happy about that, but this is going to cause someone pain and grief.

“I would always think — even whilst it would be a terrible situation and you would hate it — imagine not ever finding your loved ones, not ever being able to put them to rest, not having the family know the truth.

“If we’re helping find a person’s missing loved ones, we’re at least giving them closure.

“And the other thing was, if we can find a body, you’ll find evidence with that … you may take a person off the streets, who could quite possibly [harm] somebody else.”

Craig Murray with dog and NSW Police officer sitting on top of police car. — Animal trainer Craig Murray (left) in the field with police in the 1990s.(Supplied: Craig Murray)

Mr Murray said a good handler monitors their dog closely.

“The thing that they’re doing by the second is watching their dog’s behaviour — because when a dog is searching, their searching behaviour is what we would call ‘neutral search behaviour’.

“You can see that they’re searching, they’ve got the desire, they’re trying to find the odour.

“Then all of a sudden they get a hint of odour and we see they’ve changed their way of behaving — and that’s the first sign. If they’re good handlers and good dogs that are expressive in their behaviour, they should give off a very clear sign that their handler clearly recognises.

“It’s pretty amazing what they can do — if everything goes right, the handler is good, the training is good, the dog’s good, the situation is good — then you can have a great result.”

Police dog and handler on a boat. — Tasmanian authorities say there is not enough work for cadaver dogs to be based in the island state.(Supplied: Tasmania Police)

Despite Wags the NSW cadaver dog being used for two separate searches while on loan, Tasmania Police said the instances requiring the use of such specialised animals were “rare” and that there were a “range of dogs, with specialist skills such as explosives, cadaver, and general purpose dogs, that are available through strong inter-jurisdictional relationships”.

Tasmania’s Police Minister Felix Ellis confirmed there were no plans to train up the state’s own cadaver dogs.

Tasmania Police said recent searches, not including those carried out in July, included one at Loongana in the state’s north-west in October 2020, a search for missing north-west woman Helen Munnings in May 2019, and the search for Noel Ingham in 2016.

black and white dog in a swamp, sniffing something out — Along with obedience and agility, an innate perseverance and strong play drive is also needed in a cadaver dog.(Supplied: NSW Police )

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