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Pittsburgh Police Training 3 New K-9s To Join Force

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – The City of Pittsburgh is getting some new police officers as three K-9s just started training.

Sgt. Chad O'Brien was just paired with veteran police dog, Bartje.

The 6-year-old Belgian-Malinois has been with the K-9 Unit for about five years.

"He's your partner and you spend more time with him then you do your own family. You are at work with him and then when you go home, that responsibility doesn't turn off," Sgt. O'Brien said.

While Sgt. O'Brien and Bartje are bonding, three other officers are now working to train three brand new K-9s

There's Max, a 14-month-old Malinois-shepherd mix. He'll be trained in narcotics.

So will Bane, a 14-month-old German shepherd.

They are joined by Ivan, a 15-month-old Belgian-Malinois, who will focus on explosives and bomb detection.

"Week one, right now, a lot of it is focused on just bonding. The dogs are bonding with their new handlers, some basic obedience, and we're starting to lay the groundwork for the detection work," Sgt. O'Brien said.

The animals will go through a 12-week course.

The intensive training includes obedience, detection in either narcotics or explosives, and patrol work. They learn techniques like tracking, building search, and apprehension.

"They're used mostly as a locating tool, for patrol and it adds another less lethal option to the officers on the street, which is very important," Sgt. O'Brien said.

Max and Bane were purchased with money from the Officer Rocco K-9 Memorial Fund.

Rocco died from injuries suffered in the line of duty in January 2014.

Funding for Ivan came from the United States Department of Homeland Security.

The three new dogs take the total number on Pittsburgh's streets to 22.

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