Winter 2009Volume 1, Issue 1
At this year’s IPWDA National Workshop two things
became fairly clear. First, it appears that members are
quite happy with their complimentary K-9 Cop Magazine.
The periodical is doing a wonderful job of providing train-
ing, legal, and medical information in a dynamic way.
Secondly, there was a feeling among most that with
the departure of the IPWDA Journal that communication
between the organization and the membership has suf-
fered. As always, the organization wants members to
feel connected to their organization.
The IPWDA E-newsletter is being created to fill in
the gaps.
The newsletter is an attempt to keep you up to speed
on member and organization activity. It’s not meant to be
a comprehensive training magazine of a re-creation of
what you’ll find at www.ipwda.org
If you have any news or information to pass on please
send it my way. The newsletter will only be as good as
the information
that is being
sent in.
We do not
plan on stuffing
your inbox with
lots of junk to
ignore. The
newsletter should be in your inboxes 2-4 times a year.
The organization will also send out periodic reminders or
news (membership renewal time, specific events, etc.).
The goal is that if you see something in your inbox from
IPWDA that its worth opening up!
The e-news letter will only be going to members that
have provided a valid email address when filling out their
membership forms. Feel free to forward the newsletter
to someone that may have missed out.
Welcome!
IPWDA has historically produced an in-house web site
for its members. Many thanks to Antoinette Steely and
Bruce Quinn for their countless uncompensated volunteer
hours spent in creating and maintaining the web site over
the years.
The Executive Board felt the website was important
enough to seek outside expert help. The organization has
elected to contract out with a professional web-site de-
signer to revamp the organization’s web site. The designer
is also being contracted to update and maintain the site.
If you haven’t looked at the website lately take a look,
we’re hoping you’ll like what you see.
There are many ideas for the website that are being
kicked around that will assist the organization and mem-
bers. The ideas will gradually be implemented and please
be patient while the transition is made.
MT Ken Kelleher and MT Larry Culbert are the contact
points for anyone that has any input on the web site tran-
sition.
Web site information Things you’ll find at www.ipwda.org: Contact information for your executive board. List of Trainers and Master Trainers and their contact
information Upcoming Events Membership information and form. Ability to pay for
membership on the web through paypal. Archives of training articles and legal material. Complete IPWDA Bylaws Complete IPWDA Certification rules Complete IPWDA Accreditation rules More stuff being added
Each year at the National the Executive Board and
general membership go through the Bylaws and Certifi-
cation rules and vote on proposed changes.
The changes that were made underwent careful
analysis and debate. If you have input for additional
proposed changes I’d encourage you to discuss the mat-
ter with an executive board member and appear at a Na-
tional event to provide your input. I also chair the by-
laws committee, so feel free to call or email me if you
have additional ideas or need clarification.
Full copies of both the bylaws and certification rules
are available at www.ipwda.org.
Here are the “cliff notes” version of the important
changes that members should be aware of:
Patrol, Narcotic, and Explosive Certifications issued
after 10-23-09 are valid for one year.
Indemnification. The International Police Work Dog
Association shall to the fullest extent permitted by
law indemnify persons performing services expressly
for the corporation…
Proof of a Criminal Records History Check shall be
required for Civilian Search and Rescue Handlers in
order to be sponsored by for membership. (had pre-
viously required negative NCIC check). Associate
members now will submit at $15 fee annually to the
organization, who will conduct the background check
for the applicant.
Return of property. At any time upon request of the
Association any member or former member shall re-
turn promptly to the Association any and all records,
files, blanks, forms, materials, supplies, or any other
materials furnished, used, or generated during the
course of membership. All copies of the same shall
also be surrendered upon request of the organiza-
tion.
The Board of Trustees shall now consist of two (2)
regular members, instead of the previous 4.
Ethics Chairperson is the new title of the former
Grievance Chairperson. Evidence Searches is the
new title of the former Article Searches.
Master Trainers, Trainers, and Instructors must
renew membership by April 1st or will have their
accreditation suspended.
Codified the order of business at the association’s
meetings.
Guidelines for State Sanctioned Workshops or
Seminars are to be created by the Treasurer and
followed by parties hosting an IPWDA event.
Developed specific language to handle waiver re-
quests for specific portions of accreditation re-
quirements.
Codified the ability to adopt different certification
standards when testing in foreign countries, using
the National Standards of the host country.
Changes in aggression control certification language.
The test now clearly spells out that the dog must
remain with the handler on the first gunshot. The
second gunshot is fired as the dog approaches.
There was also an addition of aggressive movement
by the decoy towards the dog during this phase.
Area searches and Building Search requirements now
include:
1. Those testing must now be dressed in full duty
gear.
2. Those testing must use a “Redman” style gun.
3. Proper tactics must be used during certification
searches
Search and rescue instructor accreditation require-
ments developed.
Full details of each of the changes can be found in the
full bylaws and rules. Those preparing for a certifica-
tion in aggression, buildings, or area searches should
read through the certification requirements and make
sure that they clearly understand the changes.
Page 2
Publisher: Mark Mathis
Contact: [email protected], 616-456-4661
Bylaw and Certification Rules Changes from National
Greetings, hope this finds you well.
We had an excellent seminar in Fayetteville this year as the
Cumberland County Sheriff rolled out the red carpet and M/T
Tim Loughman and T Joe Salisbury were great hosts.
It’s been almost a year since we switched newsletters and we
stated when we did, we would evaluate it and be open to making
additional changes based upon feedback. Well, the membership
has spoken in Fayetteville and aboard. Many had desired a more
personal publication from their organization. I hope the elec-
tronic e-mail newsletter, along with k9 Cop magazine, will provide
the membership with the best of both worlds.
Again, Mark and I call upon you to write and send photos and
articles of interest to mark at his stated e-mail for insertion and
to give his "creative mind" some rest.
Also on the communications front the Executive Board de-
cided that we needed to get some paid help in redesigning and
maintaining the web. Check out the website. I'm so excited and I
hope you will be to. While there, please check the training semi-
nars for date, locations and cost. Hopefully we will see you at one
of them.
We have some things that have surfaced since the E-Board
meeting that we believe should be added or changed to the ac-
creditation processes. Stay tuned as we'll post them once we
have them totally researched and defined! Any ideas that you
the members have or would like address, please send them to an
E-Board member.
The Elections were held this year in Fayetteville at the na-
tional seminar. I want to thank you for your vote of confidence in
my re-election. I appreciate it and hopefully continue to lead
your orginization in a positive forward motion.
A lot of other business was con-
ducted at the National. Mark high-
lighted the changes in a brief sum-
mation in this newsletter. I’m really
excited and grateful to have had
added the accreditation of IN-
STRUCTOR for our associate mem-
bers in SAR.
We are receiving a lot of inquir-
ies from members of other associa-
tions about becoming members of
IPWDA. I believe it’s because of
the great membership, your elected
leadership, progressive thinking, and
a very strict dedication to keeping
the association’s standards set to
the highest possible level in the K-9
profession.
We continue to grow and it
shows in all reports from the mem-
bership to the treasuries, which
indicate that progress is being made
yearly.
Congrats to the newly accred-
ited Trainers and Master Train-
ers, they earned it!!
Our sincere heartfelt thanks
go out to our volunteer webmaster
Bruce Quinn. Bruce stepped up
and assumed the website when we
were in dire need of assistance.
Now, Bruce has new commitments
at work, home, and family and we
understand his time is very limited.
I have spoke to associate member Janelle Hideg from Ohio.
She stated that Ohio SAR members just conducted a workshop
with approximately 60 attendees and that it was a success.
Don’t forget the Texas workshop in Feb-Mar 2010. Host
Frank Bellino and the “Bear” County Sheriff’s office are working
very hard in organizing such a big and demanding event. Frank
stated that he was expecting 100-125 teams. So check the web
site for information and get your early registration in. See y’all in
Texas.
Please e-mail Mark Mathis with any information that you
would like to share with the membership. He has stated that he
will try to get these e-mails out 2-4 times a year.
On behalf of the Executive Board and our families, we wish
you and your family a very happy, safe and wonderful holiday sea-
son.
Stay safe,
Rick
Page 3
Publisher: Mark Mathis
Contact: [email protected], 616-456-4661
President’s Message
Page 4
Publisher: Mark Mathis
Contact: [email protected], 616-456-4661
Member News
Indiana—
The newly
expanded
ISP K-9 Unit
is up to 30
members.
From
January
2009 to September 2009 the Unit
has been involved in 990 arrests.
The dogs have found 1,171 POUNDS
of marijuana, 58 pounds of cocaine, 8
pounds of heroin, and 14 pounds of
methamphetamine.
The dogs have also helped to gen-
erate $794,198 in seizures.
The ISP program should be excel-
lent inspiration for others consider-
ing an expansion of their program.
The partial year numbers show
the significant dent that dedicated
teams can have on tar-
geted offenses.
Keep up the great
work!
Please extend congrats to our new Trainers and Master Trainers, who all received
accreditation at the 2009 Nationals: Corporal Brian C. Fleig; Anne Arundel County Police, MD; Trainer - Utility & Explosives
Officer Vincent Moy; MBTA Transit Police, MA; Trainer - Utility & Narcotic
Sergeant Mike Sosa; MBTA Transit Police, MA; Master Trainer—Utility and Narcotic
Officer John Ivey: Metro Police Department, TX Master Trainer—Utility and Narcotic
Michigan—Lapeer
County’s K-9
Drago, handled by
Deputy Mike Tap-
pen, died in Octo-
ber from cancer
related causes.
Michigan—Three
Rivers’ K-9 Anjia,
handled by Offi-
cer Matt Stark,
died in October
from an auto-
immune related
disease.
Cost with lodging: Members $300, Non-Members $345
Cost without lodging: Members $225, Non-Members $270
Includes: 3 meals per day, welcome night, banquet, awards.
Training includes: ATF&E NORT Testing, intro to peroxide based
odors, intro to other new odors, IPWDA Certifications, Federal
Certifications, scenarios, classroom instruction, problem solving.
Why us?: 5th annual and perhaps largest EDD seminar in the
United States. Top instructors. Capped at 85 teams. Effort to
minimize down time. Wide cross section of attendees.
Contact: MT Dick Sheehy at 508-224-8596 ([email protected])
MT Larry Culbert at 617-908-2186 ([email protected])
Full sign up details being posted at: WWW.IPWDA.ORG
2010 IPWDA EDD Seminar. May 2nd to May 7th.
5th Annual international event. Camp Edwards; Bourne, MA
All inclusive (lodging, meals, training). Costs $225-$345.
Top EDD training event with varied offerings and attendees.
Contacts: MT Dick Sheehy at 508-224-8596, MT Larry Cul-
bert at 617-908-2186, or [email protected]
Full details at www.ipwda.org.
2010 IPWDA Texas State Workshop. Feb 28th—March 5th.
San Antonio, TX
Varied Offerings for Patrol, Narcotic, EDD, SAR Dogs.
Hosted by Bexar County Sheriff’s K-9 Unit.
Cost $275.
Contact Frank Bellino at 210-335-5014 or [email protected]
Full details at www.ipwda.org.
Page 8
Publisher: Mark Mathis
Contact: [email protected], 616-456-4661
2010 National Workshop—Plan now!
9-12-10 to 9-17-10
Grayling Michigan, National Guard Base
Cost $350 members, $395 non-members
Included: lodging, food, banquet, supplies,
training facilities, hospitality room, door
prizes, seminar shirt, K-9 Cop Magazine.
Patrol
Narcotic
Explosive
SAR
Quick Facts
This is different than other seminars
that you have attended.
Training is divided into two hours blocks,
and handlers select from numerous possi-
ble offerings in each block.
Certifications, scenarios, hands on “skills
stations”, and classrooms are offered on
most blocks.
You are in charge of designing your own
seminar — last year we had 68 offerings
for handlers to choose from. Run 13 sce-
narios, learn high level skills, solve basic
problems, attend classrooms, certify. It’s
all up to you.
Unique seminar that by design virtually
eliminates all down time.
Why should I attend?
39 critiques were returned from the 2009 event and
handlers rated several items on a 1-100 scale:
Overall training 97.5/100
Downtime 97.3/100
Instructors 98.4/100
Compared to other seminars 98.1/100
Quotes from the critiques show why you should con-
sider this your training event of the year:
“Next time I wouldn’t change a damn thing” KY handler
“Liked the peer-to-peer feeling” MI trainer/handler
“For my skill level the seminar adapted to me.” New
handler from GA
“Down time was minimal and every day seemed to flow
very well” MI handler
“The most useful and well organized seminar I’ve been
to.” “Lots of individual attention” Veteran handler from
Iowa
“Everything was great, don’t make any changes” Vet-
eran MI handler
“Seminar was well organized with a tremendous amount
of options for handlers to choose from.” 30 year K-9
judge and trainer
“Loved the option of choosing what I’d like to attend.
It adapted well to my skill level.” Iowa handler
“Everything that was offered should be offered again”
MI Handler
Feedback from 2009 Seminar
Seminar capped at about 100 attendees. We do anticipate it to be full.
Sign up information available in early 2010 at www.ipwda.org or by calling 616-456-4661
Direct any questions to MT Mark Mathis at [email protected]
Sign up information