1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:04,760 Speaker 1: I am absolutely pumped because the little police dogs in 2 00:00:04,840 --> 00:00:07,880 Speaker 1: training have joined me in the studio. They are the 3 00:00:07,920 --> 00:00:10,880 Speaker 1: newest recruits, I think, to the Northern Territory Police Force 4 00:00:10,920 --> 00:00:12,920 Speaker 1: and they're joined in here as well. Let me turn 5 00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:16,279 Speaker 1: these microphones on. You can probably hear the puppies, but 6 00:00:16,360 --> 00:00:16,640 Speaker 1: in the. 7 00:00:16,600 --> 00:00:17,680 Speaker 2: Studio with me as well. 8 00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:22,680 Speaker 1: I have got Senior Sergeant Meacham King good morning to you, yeah, 9 00:00:22,760 --> 00:00:26,000 Speaker 1: really good. And we have also got Sergeant Stephen Dell 10 00:00:26,120 --> 00:00:28,120 Speaker 1: Rymple good morning to you, Stave. 11 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:28,480 Speaker 3: Good morning. 12 00:00:29,320 --> 00:00:31,640 Speaker 1: And we've got what are their names? What do we 13 00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:40,320 Speaker 1: call them? Jax and as Sons of Drags. Very creative, 14 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:45,640 Speaker 1: that's a best. They are absolutely gorgeous. Now they're fully 15 00:00:45,680 --> 00:00:48,040 Speaker 1: grabbing my headphones. They really want to be part of 16 00:00:48,080 --> 00:00:51,519 Speaker 1: the show. And they're how old are they now? Now? 17 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:52,479 Speaker 3: Twelve weeks old? 18 00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:55,800 Speaker 2: Twelve weeks old? They have got massive pause. 19 00:00:55,880 --> 00:00:58,800 Speaker 1: They are going to be big police dogs, aren't they. 20 00:00:58,880 --> 00:01:03,120 Speaker 2: I hope you're not picking on them, definitely not. I'm 21 00:01:03,680 --> 00:01:05,959 Speaker 2: not shaming them in any way based on their size. 22 00:01:06,200 --> 00:01:07,200 Speaker 2: They are gorgeous. 23 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:09,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, they are awesome little dogs. 24 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:13,919 Speaker 4: They've as I said, there's the sons of Drags and 25 00:01:14,600 --> 00:01:16,880 Speaker 4: they've got all the little traits that he had as 26 00:01:16,920 --> 00:01:17,679 Speaker 4: he was growing up. 27 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:24,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, right, so, as you can tell, and Draxes, a 28 00:01:24,600 --> 00:01:27,360 Speaker 1: phenomenal dog like Drags is out there. Part of the 29 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:31,280 Speaker 1: police force are helping to apprehend people that are doing 30 00:01:31,360 --> 00:01:32,160 Speaker 1: the wrong thing. 31 00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:33,240 Speaker 2: Really very often. 32 00:01:33,640 --> 00:01:36,560 Speaker 1: So we're expecting these two little blokes to do the same. 33 00:01:36,959 --> 00:01:38,560 Speaker 2: How long does it take to train them up? 34 00:01:39,240 --> 00:01:41,160 Speaker 3: Their training program has already started. 35 00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:44,840 Speaker 4: Yeah, hopefully by the time they're twenty two months old 36 00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:48,480 Speaker 4: that they will be graduating and out on the streets. 37 00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:51,840 Speaker 1: Incredible, Now meet them. How many police dogs have we 38 00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:52,760 Speaker 1: got now for. 39 00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:54,840 Speaker 5: The tild dog pass we've got five and Darwen and 40 00:01:54,880 --> 00:01:56,960 Speaker 5: three and other springs yep. And then the drug dogs 41 00:01:57,040 --> 00:01:59,440 Speaker 5: we have them in Darwin, Catherine Good Island and out 42 00:01:59,440 --> 00:02:00,240 Speaker 5: of Springs as well. 43 00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:03,559 Speaker 1: Like how beneficial are they as part of the police force. 44 00:02:03,920 --> 00:02:05,880 Speaker 5: I think they're a critical factor there really are a 45 00:02:05,920 --> 00:02:08,040 Speaker 5: force multiplier and anything they do. We'll talk about the 46 00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:10,880 Speaker 5: patrol dog mainly, but the fact that they can track 47 00:02:11,040 --> 00:02:13,840 Speaker 5: the article, search for stolen property and also weapons and 48 00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:15,720 Speaker 5: then also tracking offenders. 49 00:02:15,800 --> 00:02:16,680 Speaker 6: Is absolutely vital. 50 00:02:16,880 --> 00:02:19,959 Speaker 5: Chaltent jobs we have where the boys will turn up late. 51 00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:22,320 Speaker 5: We know the offenders in the vicinity. They'll track them 52 00:02:22,360 --> 00:02:24,360 Speaker 5: down or locate them, then we can challenge and take 53 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:25,040 Speaker 5: them into custody. 54 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:26,960 Speaker 1: Yep. And I'll tell you what, There would be nothing 55 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:29,359 Speaker 1: more frightening, I don't think than having drags running towards 56 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:32,160 Speaker 1: you when you're being apprehended. I would think, goodness me, 57 00:02:32,200 --> 00:02:36,000 Speaker 1: I'm going to stop whatever I'm doing now. They also, though, 58 00:02:36,040 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 1: and I want to make this really clear, I caught 59 00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:41,440 Speaker 1: up with one of the police officers a couple of 60 00:02:41,560 --> 00:02:43,680 Speaker 1: years back where they'd actually I think it was patrol 61 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:47,400 Speaker 1: dog Daily maybe, who had helped to find an elderly 62 00:02:47,440 --> 00:02:51,120 Speaker 1: woman who'd gone missing in some bushland near the waterfront. 63 00:02:51,320 --> 00:02:54,040 Speaker 1: And you know, the work that that dog had done 64 00:02:54,520 --> 00:02:56,040 Speaker 1: was just incredible. 65 00:02:56,240 --> 00:02:58,720 Speaker 3: Yeah, that was actually Wedge. 66 00:02:58,840 --> 00:03:01,400 Speaker 2: It was Wedge, my geez, sorry yep. Yeah. 67 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:04,200 Speaker 1: And you know, speaking to Matt and speaking to Wedge 68 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:06,320 Speaker 1: when that had happened, it was such a like it 69 00:03:06,360 --> 00:03:08,480 Speaker 1: was a heart warming situation, but it was a really 70 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:12,519 Speaker 1: difficult situation as well that had Wedge not been there, 71 00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:14,920 Speaker 1: the outcome could have been very different. 72 00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:19,919 Speaker 4: Absolutely, it was very much an uplifting moment for Matt 73 00:03:19,960 --> 00:03:23,320 Speaker 4: as well. As you can appreciate a lot of things 74 00:03:23,320 --> 00:03:25,880 Speaker 4: that we do. And there's not really a positive spin 75 00:03:25,960 --> 00:03:27,240 Speaker 4: that you can put on a lot of it, but 76 00:03:28,240 --> 00:03:30,919 Speaker 4: it was a really defining moment for Matt and he's 77 00:03:30,960 --> 00:03:34,960 Speaker 4: had multiple discussions in relating it, debriefing and things like that. 78 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:37,760 Speaker 3: Was a positive outcome at the time. 79 00:03:37,920 --> 00:03:41,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, and just like it just shows you how instrumental 80 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:45,160 Speaker 1: the patrol dogs, the police dogs are as part of 81 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:48,720 Speaker 1: the police force. You know, they're incredible. But I want 82 00:03:48,720 --> 00:03:50,600 Speaker 1: to talk a bit more about this training. 83 00:03:50,320 --> 00:03:52,560 Speaker 7: Like what do you have to do because they're laughing 84 00:03:52,600 --> 00:03:54,000 Speaker 7: being in here, aren't they? 85 00:03:55,880 --> 00:03:57,640 Speaker 2: So it could be training for quite some. 86 00:03:57,560 --> 00:03:59,160 Speaker 3: Time, correct, correct? 87 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:01,440 Speaker 4: So right now, one of the big things is their 88 00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:04,680 Speaker 4: environmental training that we're going through. It might look all 89 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:06,920 Speaker 4: fun and games, just bringing them in where they have 90 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:09,000 Speaker 4: a bit of a wrestle and things like that, but 91 00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:11,400 Speaker 4: it's important for them to get out amongst the community, 92 00:04:11,440 --> 00:04:15,160 Speaker 4: meet different people, see different things, walk around different businesses, 93 00:04:15,280 --> 00:04:20,280 Speaker 4: different shops, all those kind of things to increase their 94 00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:21,600 Speaker 4: environmental stability. 95 00:04:22,600 --> 00:04:24,920 Speaker 5: And we also wanted to be social dogs as well, Cadie, 96 00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:27,320 Speaker 5: where the public events they've taken drags out to buddings 97 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:29,279 Speaker 5: for some of the days before and other community events 98 00:04:29,279 --> 00:04:31,800 Speaker 5: which have the drug dogs to casual ready for Christmas 99 00:04:31,839 --> 00:04:32,920 Speaker 5: before Christmas as well. 100 00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:35,080 Speaker 6: Are the other as the horses as well. 101 00:04:35,120 --> 00:04:37,279 Speaker 5: But so they've got to be socially, got to understand 102 00:04:37,279 --> 00:04:39,120 Speaker 5: where they can be around the public and understand what 103 00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:41,120 Speaker 5: it's time to be the dog, a police dog, and 104 00:04:41,120 --> 00:04:44,039 Speaker 5: when it is to be friendly dog for pr and 105 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:46,120 Speaker 5: also just to be part of the family. 106 00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:48,800 Speaker 1: And that's something that's changed quite substantially over the years 107 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:51,159 Speaker 1: as well, hasn't it with the training of those police dogs, 108 00:04:51,200 --> 00:04:53,760 Speaker 1: Like the fact that they can be so interactive with 109 00:04:53,839 --> 00:04:56,479 Speaker 1: the public. They know when they've got to switch it 110 00:04:56,480 --> 00:04:58,840 Speaker 1: on and they know when they know when they're not. 111 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:01,880 Speaker 6: Yesh, we're focusing heavily in the development of the pups now. 112 00:05:01,920 --> 00:05:04,719 Speaker 8: We've we recently attended a national forum down in Camera 113 00:05:04,760 --> 00:05:07,280 Speaker 8: with all the police dogs from around the country in 114 00:05:07,279 --> 00:05:10,880 Speaker 8: New Zealand for all capabilities including explosives, and we had 115 00:05:10,880 --> 00:05:12,680 Speaker 8: a really good presenter for the use of the United States. 116 00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:14,800 Speaker 5: It came over and there are talking about you've got 117 00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:17,040 Speaker 5: to invest in the pumps same as your children. You've 118 00:05:17,040 --> 00:05:19,120 Speaker 5: got to invest in your children, you've got to invest 119 00:05:19,120 --> 00:05:21,680 Speaker 5: in your new employees, same as a puff. So we're 120 00:05:21,760 --> 00:05:24,880 Speaker 5: focusing heavily on these guys to really put more work. 121 00:05:24,680 --> 00:05:26,239 Speaker 6: Into them, just give us a better outcome. 122 00:05:26,279 --> 00:05:29,120 Speaker 5: Because when they're ready to pass their assess them to 123 00:05:29,120 --> 00:05:31,440 Speaker 5: be assigned to a handler in on average nationally it's 124 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:33,520 Speaker 5: only a fifty percent pass rate. It's just a good 125 00:05:33,600 --> 00:05:37,080 Speaker 5: chance that only jax or acts might actually get selected 126 00:05:37,120 --> 00:05:38,760 Speaker 5: to actually move on to be a police dog. 127 00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:41,040 Speaker 6: So we're houlding all the extra workouts. 128 00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:43,119 Speaker 5: Now we're hoping to really increase that percentage and getting 129 00:05:43,120 --> 00:05:43,599 Speaker 5: both about this. 130 00:05:44,200 --> 00:05:46,120 Speaker 1: Right, I didn't know that. I wasn't aware of that, 131 00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:47,800 Speaker 1: and so it's really you've got to make sure that 132 00:05:47,839 --> 00:05:51,560 Speaker 1: they're you know, that they are exactly right to be 133 00:05:51,600 --> 00:05:52,760 Speaker 1: able to step into the force. 134 00:05:53,680 --> 00:05:55,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, and so what kind of. 135 00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:58,240 Speaker 1: Qualities do they really need to have to be successful 136 00:05:58,279 --> 00:05:59,440 Speaker 1: police docks? 137 00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:04,480 Speaker 4: Strong, they don't seem to be afraid of anything at 138 00:06:04,480 --> 00:06:09,600 Speaker 4: the moment, strong nerves, trainability, and a very good health. 139 00:06:11,080 --> 00:06:11,640 Speaker 3: Background. 140 00:06:11,839 --> 00:06:12,560 Speaker 2: Yeah. 141 00:06:12,760 --> 00:06:14,680 Speaker 1: Now, Steve, tell me, mate, what's it like at your 142 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:16,440 Speaker 1: house at the moment? How many but like how much 143 00:06:16,440 --> 00:06:17,360 Speaker 1: food are you going through? 144 00:06:17,440 --> 00:06:17,960 Speaker 2: Dog food? 145 00:06:18,960 --> 00:06:24,960 Speaker 3: About? It's good? Yes, it is a lot of work. 146 00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:27,760 Speaker 4: I'm not probably ten to six and don't go to 147 00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:31,080 Speaker 4: bed till after nine o'clock and it's the majority of 148 00:06:31,120 --> 00:06:32,159 Speaker 4: the time is with these two. 149 00:06:34,040 --> 00:06:37,040 Speaker 1: They are gorgeous and don't worry, we'll take some videos 150 00:06:37,080 --> 00:06:39,000 Speaker 1: and some photos to pop up on the Mix ONEO 151 00:06:39,080 --> 00:06:42,720 Speaker 1: four nine facebook page. But like you know, it would 152 00:06:42,760 --> 00:06:45,279 Speaker 1: be a full time job as well realistically caring for 153 00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:46,600 Speaker 1: caring for the dogs. 154 00:06:47,120 --> 00:06:48,080 Speaker 3: It is very much so. 155 00:06:48,320 --> 00:06:51,720 Speaker 4: And the the animal that's suffering at the moment, as 156 00:06:51,720 --> 00:06:53,640 Speaker 4: poor old Drat is feeling a little bit left out. 157 00:06:55,360 --> 00:06:57,680 Speaker 5: The heads home home kennels well Cadie, so they take 158 00:06:57,720 --> 00:07:01,040 Speaker 5: the dog's home. Yeah, finally the home environment with the 159 00:07:01,120 --> 00:07:03,680 Speaker 5: family and give a perspective between work and high life, 160 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:06,280 Speaker 5: but also allows to the guys for call comes in, 161 00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:08,120 Speaker 5: they can deploy from home so that they can be 162 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:09,160 Speaker 5: the scene quicker and sup. 163 00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:12,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, and tell me what's the like, what is the 164 00:07:12,960 --> 00:07:16,680 Speaker 1: work life period for a police dog? Like how long 165 00:07:16,720 --> 00:07:18,280 Speaker 1: can they be working for. 166 00:07:19,320 --> 00:07:22,880 Speaker 4: It's very much a dog white dog basis, but generally 167 00:07:23,120 --> 00:07:27,640 Speaker 4: there's a five year working dog medal ye is presented. 168 00:07:27,640 --> 00:07:29,880 Speaker 4: It's a national thing from the Defense Force that was 169 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:33,000 Speaker 4: initiated by them and general if you can get five 170 00:07:33,080 --> 00:07:35,400 Speaker 4: years working life out of it out of a dog, 171 00:07:35,440 --> 00:07:36,600 Speaker 4: you've done pretty well. 172 00:07:36,880 --> 00:07:39,720 Speaker 1: And Steve, have you got other dogs as well? Have 173 00:07:39,800 --> 00:07:41,760 Speaker 1: you just got tracks? And these two that you're looking 174 00:07:41,800 --> 00:07:42,440 Speaker 1: after all. 175 00:07:42,480 --> 00:07:44,360 Speaker 4: Well, it was one of the very sad days yesterday. 176 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:47,040 Speaker 4: I had to put my original German shepherd down. 177 00:07:47,320 --> 00:07:48,680 Speaker 2: I'm so sorry to hear that. 178 00:07:49,120 --> 00:07:52,640 Speaker 4: Loo, Yeah, Luca, he was twelve years old and five 179 00:07:52,680 --> 00:07:55,480 Speaker 4: months and it was a very sad day at home yesterday. 180 00:07:55,600 --> 00:07:58,200 Speaker 1: Oh mate, I'm really sorry to hear that. That's devastating. 181 00:07:58,280 --> 00:08:01,320 Speaker 1: Lupo had a long and altas career, didn't. 182 00:08:01,240 --> 00:08:05,040 Speaker 4: He was actually a longest serving patrol dog, yeah right, six. 183 00:08:04,920 --> 00:08:08,840 Speaker 1: Years goodness me, and did some incredible stuff in his time. 184 00:08:08,920 --> 00:08:11,559 Speaker 1: So I know that, you know, there'll be people listening 185 00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:14,680 Speaker 1: this morning that are really sad to hear that. And yeah, 186 00:08:14,720 --> 00:08:16,680 Speaker 1: I'm really sad to hear that as well. And they're 187 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:22,480 Speaker 1: incredible dogs. These two are just gorgeous. I'm very excited 188 00:08:22,520 --> 00:08:24,320 Speaker 1: to have him in the studio. So we're going to 189 00:08:24,360 --> 00:08:25,720 Speaker 1: play a bit of a song so I can get 190 00:08:25,720 --> 00:08:27,400 Speaker 1: a photo to get up on the mix. One O 191 00:08:27,480 --> 00:08:30,880 Speaker 1: four nine Facebook page. Thank you so much for coming 192 00:08:30,920 --> 00:08:33,000 Speaker 1: in this morning with the puppies. And I know that 193 00:08:33,080 --> 00:08:36,480 Speaker 1: it's you know, it's probably difficult getting them out and 194 00:08:36,520 --> 00:08:39,199 Speaker 1: about in different ways, but they are in. 195 00:08:39,200 --> 00:08:42,040 Speaker 2: Here training right correct, Yeah, excellent. 196 00:08:43,960 --> 00:08:46,800 Speaker 7: They're trying to steal my headphones while we're while we're 197 00:08:46,840 --> 00:08:49,480 Speaker 7: doing the interview, but gee, they're gorgeous. So we will 198 00:08:49,480 --> 00:08:51,440 Speaker 7: get some photos up on the mix on O four 199 00:08:51,559 --> 00:08:53,960 Speaker 7: nine website and Facebook page. Now, if you want to 200 00:08:53,960 --> 00:08:56,000 Speaker 7: get in contact with me this morning, you most certainly 201 00:08:56,000 --> 00:08:58,680 Speaker 7: can eight nine four one one oh four nine. And 202 00:08:58,720 --> 00:09:01,120 Speaker 7: how wonderful of course to have Jax and Axe in 203 00:09:01,160 --> 00:09:05,840 Speaker 7: the studio with Senior Sergeant Meacham King and Sergeant Stephen 204 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:06,520 Speaker 7: Dell Rymple. 205 00:09:06,600 --> 00:09:08,000 Speaker 2: Thank you for your time this morning.