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Canine

The EPISD Police Department narcotics Canine Unit was established in 1998, in response to the growing concern over the use and sale of illegal narcotics within the EPISD school system. The overall mission of the unit is to conduct narcotics interdiction through out the district with the primary goal of insuring a safe and drug free environment for students as well as the staff.

The EPISD Police Department currently deploys four canine teams. Each of the respective team is assigned to a high school and conducts canine operations through out the district. The Canine (K9) Unit consists of one sergeant and four officers each assigned their respective canine partners. The officers and their canines work together to develop mutual trust and affection in order to become an effective narcotics interdiction team. Handlers along with their canines are required to undergo 400 hours of intensive training prior to deployment in the district. Canines are police officers, each with their own serial number, police officers badge and photo I.D. Canine teams maintain nationally recognized certifications through the North American Police Working Dog Association as well as the National Narcotics Detector Dog Association.

EPISD canine teams have been called upon to assist the El Paso Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety, Federal Bureau of Investigations, and the Texas Department of Corrections in conducting canine searches.

Since it's inception, the canine unit has demonstrated that the deployment of narcotic canines with in the district has deterred and displaced narcotics activity away from the campuses. The EPISD canine unit is committed to the task of insuring a safe and drug free environment and the protection of our future.

The Department's four canines are deployed directly in the day shift, where they have been specially trained to serve as narcotics detection dogs. Working directly with school staff, the K9 Unit has a positive impact on reducing the ingress and egress of unlawful drugs in EPISD Schools. Canine officers and their partners are also assigned to certain high schools and conduct narcotic searches at all high schools and middle schools.

Canine Tiki is a seven year old female American Labrador Retriever and has been with the El Paso Independent School District Police Department since 2007. She is certified with the National Narcotics Detector Dog Association.

Officer John Dominguez, the newest member of the narcotics K-9 Division, has been an officer with the El Paso Independent School District Police Department for approximately 13 years. During that time, he has received several awards to include the medal of valor. Officer Dominguez and his partner Canine Tiki enjoy working together in battling th war on drugs.

Officer R. Nickels is a 15 year Veteran Law Enforcement Officer; he has been with the El Paso ISD Police Department since 1998. He has been with the EPISD Canine Unit since November 1999 when he attended the El Paso Police Department Canine Academy, his canine partner Ben is a three year old Czech Shepherd, he is certified in the detection of narcotice odor by the NNDDA.

Canine DJ is a three year old German Shepherd that weighs 85 pounds. K9 DJ started his career in law enforecement in the summer of 2008 with the EPISD Police Dept. canine unit and yes K9 DJ enjoys his job. K9 DJ is a certified narcotics canine with NNDDA and is the first K9 to be fully trained and deployed by EPISD Police Canine Instructors, who are certified instructos by U.S. Department of Homeland Security Bureau of Customs & Border Protection, Border Patrol national Canine Facility.

Officer Deal is a 9 year Veteran of the Departments Narcotic Canine Unit and a 2003 Graduate of the United States Border Patrol National Canine Training facility and currently holds the position of Lead Canine Trainer I.

If K9 DJ could speak his message would be, "I have fun working with my assigned partner Officer Deal. Together we make the EPISD community Drug Free and provide a safe learning environment for all its students, faculty and staff. Not to toot my own horn but my nose knows. So be drug free or my partner will know you made a bad decision."

Canine Leo is one of the newest additions to the El Paso Independent School District Narcotics Canine Unit, beginning his career in June 2008 with his handler Officer James Tatum, a 7 year veteran of the department's narcotics canine unit.
Canine Leo is a 4 year old Czech Shephard trained in narcotics detection and certified by the National Narcotics Detector Dog Association.
Officer Tatum is a 2002 graduate of the El Paso Police Narcotics Canine Handles Course and a 2004 Graduate of the United States Border Patrol National Canine Training Facility and currently holds an active Canine Instructors Certification with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection National Canine Facility.

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