Rick Patrick
rick@greenepublishing.com
Recently, the Madison Correctional Institution (MCI) K-9 team traveled to Brooksville, Fla., to participate in a competition among 11 correctional institutions from across the North Florida region. When all the sniffing was done, the Madison team placed third, the best finish they have had in three years of competition. The competition took place over three days, from Tuesday, March 7, through Thursday, March 9, at Chinsegut Hill and Retreat, in Brooksville, Fla.
The annual competition gives teams from across the region an opportunity to match their skills with others. During the competition, an “escapee” heads out into a wooded area, making two 90 degree turns. After a two-hour head start, the dogs track the subject. The competition is timed and takes place in both daylight and nighttime conditions. In addition to the tracking competitions, marksmanship competitions are also held. The Madison team also did well in the marksmanship competition. It wasn't all work during the event, as several fun games of corn hole took place. The MCI team took two of their eight bloodhound dogs to the competition.
The dogs on the MCI team have all been trained by the staff at MCI, with training beginning when the puppies are about six weeks of age. Much of what the dogs do comes from instinct and the dogs truly enjoy what they do. “They [the dogs] love it,” said MCI K-9 Team Member, Sgt. Justin Surles. “To them, it's just like playing.” It may seem like play for the dogs, but what they do plays a vital role in ensuring the safety and welfare of the community. The team is frequently called upon by the Madison County Sheriff's Office in the apprehension of criminals and suspects. In addition, these dogs have successfully found missing children and senior citizens. The MCI team always serves as back-up whenever the Hamilton Correctional Institute team is called into action, and vice-versa.
“The men and women on our K-9 Teams are heroes and place themselves in harm’s way every day,” said John Palmer, Director of Institutions for Region II Office of Institutions with the Florida Department of Corrections. “In the past 12 months, they have responded to 541 calls for assistance, with 185 fugitive apprehensions and 23 lost elderly and/or dementia patients returned to their caregivers and loved ones. Nothing short of honorable service!”