2007

City of Suffolk

Canine Nytro is handled by SPO Kenny Craig.

Canine Nytro is handled by SPO Kenny Craig.  Nytro and Kenny have been a team since 2004 and were originally trained by Al Gill of Ohio.

Nytro, a four year old German Shepherd, has provided a great service to our department and the citizens who reside in our city. Nytro is a dual purpose dog specializing in tracking, area searches, officer protection, and explosives detection.  During 2007, Nytro was responsible for clearing numerous bomb threats at our schools and court house as well as performing his regular patrol duties.

 Nytro has also been used in numerous community based functions such as Fire Safety Camp, Citizens Academies, and several school demonstrations. Nytro’s personality allows the department to demonstrate the great working relationship we have with our communities and how we can work together to prevent crime.

Nytro’s effectiveness is best exemplified in the following incident: 

On August 22, 2007, SPO Craig and Nytro responded to a residence to help look for a nine year old juvenile. Upon arrival SPO Craig was given information that the juvenile was last seen running through a neighbor’s yard. K-9 Nytro tracked south through yards and onto asphalt and proceeded into a wooded area where the child had been known to run to. Nytro proceeded through the woods and into a hotel parking lot which is under construction. Nytro then proceeded through the McDonalds parking lot and along a wood line. Nytro then tracked through the yards and into a neighbor’s backyard. Nytro went to the gate of the back yard which was partially open.  Officer checked the backyard and found the juvenile hiding under a bush. The juvenile was then turned over to his parents. The juvenile told his mother the direction and location that he had run which was the identical direction and path that Nytro had tracked.

Nytro is one of six canine teams that are assigned to uniform patrol.  Each dog performs exceptionally well and is an asset to our department. Nytro is an example of how even under the stresses of everyday uniform patrol, training and dedication can make a difference.

Canine Otto is handled by SPO Tyson Wild.

Canine Otto is handled by SPO Tyson Wild.  Otto and Tyson have been a team since 2004 and were originally trained by Al Gill of Ohio.

Otto, a four year old German Shepherd, has provided a great service to our department and the citizens who reside in our city. Otto is a dual purpose dog specializing in tracking, area searches, officer protection, and narcotics detection.  During 2007, Otto has been responsible for several Felony arrest and numerous misdemeanors to include 28 narcotics violations, weapons violations, and wanted persons.

Otto has also been used in numerous community based functions such as Fire Safety Camp, Citizens Academies, and several school demonstrations. Otto’s work ethic demonstrates the great working relationship we have with our communities and how we can work together to prevent crime.

Otto’s effectiveness is best exemplified in the following incidents: 

On February 6, 2007, Officer Wild and Canine Otto responded to assist officers in locating a subject whom had been shooting in a residential area. Upon officers arrival the subject fled the area. Officer Wild began tracking with Otto in the direction the subject had been last seen running.  During the track a hand gun was located under a house.  The track continued and Otto tracked into the yard of a residence.  Upon seeing the arrival of Otto and his fellow officers the residents pushed the subject whom had been shooting out their residence and into the waiting arms of the officers.

On June 26, 2007 Officer Wild and Canine Otto responded to the report of a shoplifter who had fled a store in the 1400 block of N. Main St. The subject was reported as last seen in the 1500 block of N. Main St. Otto was taken to the edge of the wood line behind a business in the 1500 block of N. Main St.  Otto and Officer Wild entered the woods on a cut trail which led towards the water front.  After a short time on the trail Otto began air scenting the subject. Otto was passing a deep ravine (approx 10 ft below the trail) when he alerted (head snapped) to the ravine below.  After the officers identified themselves, the subject came out from a covered recess in the ravine. The subject immediately stated “it is all a misunderstanding I have money to pay for it". 

Otto is one of six canine teams that are assigned to uniform patrol.  Each dog performs exceptionally well and is an asset to our department. Otto is an example of how even under the stresses of everyday uniform patrol, training and dedication can make a difference.

Canine Xanto is handled by SPO Jason Carr

Canine Xanto is handled by SPO Jason Carr.  Xanto and Jason have been a team since 2004 and were originally trained by Al Gill of Ohio.

Xanto, a four year old German Shepherd, has provided a great service to our department and the citizens who reside in our city. Xanto is a dual purpose dog specializing in tracking, area searches, officer protection, and narcotics detection.  During 2007, Xanto has been responsible for 6 Felony arrest and numerous misdemeanors to include narcotics violations, weapons violations, and wanted persons.

Xanto has also been used in numerous community based functions such as Care Fair, Citizens Academies, and several school demonstrations. Xanto’s personality allows the department to demonstrate the great working relationship we have with our communities and how we can work together to prevent crime.

Xanto’s effectiveness is best exemplified in the following incidents: 

On July 29, 2007, Canine Xanto was asked to track suspects from a robbery at a convenience store.  Xanto tracked across a ditch and into a field of tall weeds.  The track ended at a building in an adjacent apartment complex. During the track, Xanto located stolen money and receipts that were dropped by the suspect in the tall grass. A suspect was developed from fingerprints lifted off the receipts.

On September 10, 2007, Officer Carr responded to Ivor, Va. to assist South Hampton County Sheriff’s Department with apprehending a wanted subject. Officers on scene advised that a wanted subject had ran from an officer out of the back door of a residence. State Police Canine had already attempted to locate the offender but had no success.  Xanto began to search the area off leash in the back yard.  He then entered the thick woods and searched approximately 15 yards into the woods.  Xanto located the offender hiding in a thick bundle of briars and the offender yelled out to the police.  Xanto was called off and the suspect was taken into custody.

On September 19, 2007, Officer Carr responded to South Hampton County to assist with a track of a suspect which had broken into a convenience store in their jurisdiction. Xanto tracked into the back yard of a house behind the store.  A back door to the residence was open about six inches with a shoe mark on it.  The door appeared to have been kicked in. The building was checked to ensure the subject had not entered the building. The door led to a storage area which contained eight marijuana plants about five feet tall. The owner of the residence admitted to the plants being his and consented to a search of the residence.

Xanto is one of six canine teams that are assigned to uniform patrol.  Each dog performs exceptionally well and is an asset to our department. Xanto is an example of how even under the stresses of everyday uniform patrol, training and dedication can make a difference.

Canine Boscoe is handled by Sgt. Callis

Canine Boscoe is handled by Sgt. L. A. Callis.  Boscoe and Sgt. Callis have been a team since 2004 and were originally trained by Al Gill of Ohio.

Boscoe, a five year old German Shepherd, has provided a great service to our department and the citizens who reside in our city. Boscoe is a dual purpose dog specializing in tracking, area searches, officer protection, and narcotics detection.  During 2007 Boscoe has been responsible for fifteen Felony arrest and 6 misdemeanors to include narcotics violations, carjacking, wanted persons, and shooting at an occupied vehicle.

During 2007 Boscoe has also been used in numerous community based functions such as Care Fair, National Night Out, and several school demonstrations. Boscoe’s personality allows the department to demonstrate the great working relationship we have with our communities and how we can work together to prevent crime.

Boscoe’s effectiveness however is best exemplified in the following incidents: 

On January 1, 2007 Surry County Sheriffs Department requested assistance with locating a suspect from a malicious wounding.  Upon arrival a Captain from the Sheriffs Department advised that the subject was believed to be in a thicket which ran along Route10. The information received was contradictory to what the officer on scene advised he saw. A check of the area was conducted with negative results. Sgt. Callis returned with the officer to where he had last seen the suspect and Boscoe immediately began to track.  There was little wind and the ground was wet.  Boscoe tracked across an open field and along a fence until reaching an opening in the fence.  The water in the field became almost knee deep and Boscoe began to circle as if losing the track. Sgt. Callis cast Boscoe out and he did not indicate.  Sgt. Callis started performing an area search in the thicket surrounding the field.  Boscoe gave no indication and they began working their way back to where they lost the track.  Boscoe got ahead of Sgt. Callis and lay down in the grass.  As Sgt. Callis approached, Boscoe kept looking back at him.  When Sgt. Callis reached Boscoe, he realized that he had located an article of clothing.  The suspect’s T-shirt had been stuffed down into the grass.  The track continued for approximately another 1 and 1/2 miles then ended.  It is believed the subject was picked up in a vehicle.  DNA on the located item was linked to the suspect and he was subsequently charged with Malicious Wounding. 

On March 7, 2007 Surry County requested canine’s assistance with the apprehension of a wanted person. Boscoe had been ill for almost two days however there were no other dogs available so the team responded to help. The subject was known to jump from second story windows in order to escape and had been on the run for several months. Sgt. Callis and Canine Boscoe set up perimeter on the rear of the residence. Sgt. Callis heard deputies at the front of the residence asking for assistance so he went to the front.  The deputies advised that they believed the subject was inside the residence however he would not come out. Boscoe was sent into the residence and located the suspect hiding under a bed.  That night Boscoe was rushed to the emergency room and was almost lost.

On August 6, 2007 dispatched advised of a carjacking that had occurred at Obici Hospital on Godwin Blvd. Upon hearing the traffic Sgt. Callis proceeded to Crittenden Rd. to look for the vehicle. As Sgt. Callis approached Governors Point he observed the stolen vehicle traveling North on Crittenden Rd. The vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed and began accelerating as Sgt. Callis turned around on it.  Sgt. Callis reached the curve on Crittenden Rd. near Bridge Rd. when he observed smoke. The vehicle had wrecked and the suspects were fleeing from the vehicle. Sgt. Callis and Boscoe pursued the occupants through a yard and into an open area.  The passenger, upon seeing the dog, lay down on the ground and gave up.  Boscoe went into reasonable force and the subject was taken into custody. After turning the first suspect over to back up officers, Sgt. Callis attempted to locate the second suspect. An area search was being conducted when Boscoe indicated on a pick up truck with a camper shell approximately 15 yards from where the search began. The driver of the vehicle was located in the camper shell and taken into custody. 

On September 2, 2007, at approximately 2215 hours, MPO Erie advised that his vehicle had been shot with a paint ball gun near the intersection of Bennett’s Pasture and Kings Hwy. Sgt. Callis proceeded to check the area where MPO Erie had been shot at for any possible suspects that may still be in the area. Sgt. Callis was unable to locate anyone in the area so he proceeded to Driver Elementary School thinking that the subjects might be at that location doing vandalism to the school.

Upon Sgt. Callis’ arrival he observed a subject dressed in all camouflage walking across the school yard.  The subject advised that he had not been the one to shoot at the car but the subject that had was hiding in the area. The subject was turned over to another officer and the search began for the second subject. Sgt. Callis conducted a search of the area utilizing Boscoe.  As they approached a wooded area Boscoe alerted to the area lifting his head and looking up. Boscoe then came back toward Sgt. Callis and commands were once again given for the subject to give up.  There was no response and Boscoe was sent into the woods.  Within seconds Boscoe began barking and a subject began yelling "Ok! Ok! I give Up." Sgt. Callis entered the woods and found the suspect crouched down in a small clearing.  The paint ball gun was lying at his feet.

Boscoe is assigned to one of six canine teams that are assigned to uniform patrol.  Each dog performs exceptionally well and is an asset to our department. Boscoe is an example of how even under the stresses of everyday uniform patrol, training and dedication can make a difference.

Submitted By: 

Sgt. Lance A. Callis

Suffolk Police Department