Columnist Barb Henderson: Bloodhound teams lend helping hand to Metro Police

Barb Henderson

Friday, April 18, 2003 | 9:59 a.m.

Barb Henderson is an outdoors enthusiast, freelance writer and producer/host of outdoors radio television programming. Her column appears Friday in the Sun.

Bloodhounds have an adorable droopy face, a distinctive howl and a reputation for having a strong sense of smell.

It's because of their sniffing power that they make first-class canine searchers for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Search and Rescue Unit.

The bloodhound team includes five individuals assigned as handlers. The handlers are totally responsible for the dog's care, maintenance and training, and actually own the dogs.

The dog handlers/volunteers and bloodhounds on the team are:

These bloodhound handlers spend countless hours with the team and extensive training on their own and participate in six to eight search and rescue calls each year. These handlers will work with their dogs three or four times a week, and the entire team trains together at least once a week -- outdoors.

These bloodhounds will actually fling saliva when shaking their head and these lovable canines can't wait to share wet and slobbery licks once they've completed the task at hand.

The bloodhound team began some seven years ago when the Tunnells approached Bill Cassell of LVMPD Search and Rescue Unit, after hearing that he knew how to teach bloodhounds to track.

This led to the idea of using both man and canine as volunteers.

Formed in 1986, the LVMPD Search and Rescue Unit, provides a technical rescue service 24 hours a day and responds to more than 8,000 square miles in Clark County.

Along with a sergeant and six officers, the LVMPD Search and Rescue Unit has 60 volunteers who serve on five teams.

Here's a brief description about each of the other four teams.

The Mountain Rescue Team is responsible for all lost, injured, or stranded subjects in the rural areas of Clark County. They are best known for high angle technical rope rescue in the severe mountains and cliffs of the county.

The Dive Recovery Team is responsible for evidence and body recoveries in all of the waters of Clark County, except for Lake Mead, which is managed by the National Park Service.

The Logistics Support Team is responsible for providing equipment, supplies, and rehabilitation support to the Search and Rescue Teams.

Tactical Physicians are available to respond along with the Tactical Medics to provide on-scene medical support to the Swat team on all tactical operations.

In Sgt.Clint Bassett, LVMPD Search and Rescue Coordinator for Clark County own words, "All of these different team members are unpaid professionals who provide a great service to the community, often at the risk of their own lives. This service involves a great deal of sacrifice in not only time, but also financially. They are simply the best!"