Police Department

Explosive Detection K9 joins Spokane Police Department

First time in SPD history

Sgt. Lydia Taylor, 509.481.8656

Thursday, January 9, 2014 at 11 a.m.

For the first time in SPD’s history the Spokane Police Department will begin using an Explosive Detection K-9 as part of SPD’s Explosive Disposal Unit (EDU) and will assist with calls such as suspicious devices, unattended packages and safety sweeps during large scale events such as parades and sporting events.

Ofc Pegram and K-9 Ryker graduated and were certified in explosives detection on 12-14-13 in Shelton, WA at the Washington State Patrol Academy. The pair trained for more than 500 hours over 13 weeks and Ryker became certified in identifying more than 20 explosive odors. The pair has already been used to assist detectives in an evidence search. The day after graduation Ofc. Pegram and Ryker assisted detectives searching for evidence at the scene of the homicide on S. Garfield on the evening of 12-15-13.

Ryker is a single purpose dog trained to detect the odor of explosives, including high explosives as well as gun powder and ammunition. SPD expects Ryker to be used as part of the Explosive Disposal Unit (EDU) in response to suspicious or confirmed explosive devices and also separately for evidentiary searches for items such as guns, ammunition and shell casings.

Ofc. Pegram, Ryker’s handler, has been a Certified Bomb Technician with SPD for 5 years. He is currently assigned to the EDU Team full-time and will be working with Ryker to assist SPD and other agencies with EDU calls such as suspicious devices, unattended packages, and safety sweeps during large scale events such as parades and sporting events.

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