Brick Police officers and their K9 partners train in the maritime environment, Nov. 2023. (Photo: Brick Township Police)
Boasting a full marine unit and K9 unit, Brick Township’s police department is one of the most well-equipped at the Jersey Shore – and these two unique facets of law enforcement in town, which is home to the most waterfront of any New Jersey municipality, combined for a major training exercise this week.
Brick Police officers and their K9 partners train in the maritime environment, Nov. 2023. (Photo: Brick Township Police)
According to the department, Brick Police K9 handlers and their partners attended the New Jersey Joint Terrorism Task Force – Maritime Security Program on Wednesday. The K9 Maritime Exercise at Liberty State Park, Jersey City, was hosted by the FBI. Over 100 narcotic or explosive detection K9 teams joined the exercise, ranging from Cape May County to the Vermont State Police.
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Each team participated in scent detection and vessel familiarization training exercises, honing the skills of both officers and their K9 partners on the water – a unique combination that may be a key piece of training for future contingencies. Indeed, Brick police operate a busy marine unit, and as proven in the 2016 attempted boardwalk bombing, the Shore area is not immune from the prospect of terrorism.
Brick Police officers and their K9 partners train in the maritime environment, Nov. 2023. (Photo: Brick Township Police)
Brick Police officers and their K9 partners train in the maritime environment, Nov. 2023. (Photo: Brick Township Police)
Brick Police officers and their K9 partners train in the maritime environment, Nov. 2023. (Photo: Brick Township Police)
Brick Police officers and their K9 partners train in the maritime environment, Nov. 2023. (Photo: Brick Township Police)
Brick Police officers and their K9 partners train in the maritime environment, Nov. 2023. (Photo: Brick Township Police)
Brick Police officers and their K9 partners train in the maritime environment, Nov. 2023. (Photo: Brick Township Police)
Brick Police officers and their K9 partners train in the maritime environment, Nov. 2023. (Photo: Brick Township Police)
As part of the training, Ptl. Scott Smith and K9 Echo, Ptl. Ray LaPoint and K9 Rebel, and Ptl. Glen Pacyna and K9 Diesel participated in a search for high quantities of narcotics on vehicles and warehouses while also traveling on marine vessels to each location. Meanwhile, Ptl. John Turrin and K9 Vader (not pictured) participated in several hides of high quantities of explosives in various environments.
The exercise featured vessels from numerous law enforcement agencies.
