Bomb-sniffing dog stood next to a pound of explosives and didn't notice it

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-bomb27.html

A bomb-sniffing dog that protects the Chicago area's commuter rails failed to detect a pound of explosives concealed in luggage less than six feet from its nose -- and spent hours standing around, a CBS2/Chicago Sun-Times investigation found.

A dog and handler from Securitas Inc. did not react when an undercover tester walked past the team three times with the bag at Metra's Ogilvie Transportation Center earlier this month. The tester then placed the luggage in front of the dog for 30 seconds, but the team did not discover the explosives. The experiment was captured on a hidden video camera.

The camera also showed dog handlers sitting and talking for as much as two hours at a time during five separate visits to Metra stations between October and January. The handlers and dogs rarely moved from one spot.

Metra spokeswoman Judy Pardonnet said the dogs were never intended to detect bombs on passing commuters. Still, Metra officials were troubled by the video showing the dogs and handlers standing around, she said.

[acmejack]

1. Good work if you can get it.

I like dogs, in fact I own several dogs, I wonder if...

[MADem]

3. My thought exactly!! Come on, Fido, earn those biscuits!

And they'll even give you a smart looking uniform!

[katinmn]

2. Securitas Inc must be a Halliburtan subsidiary

Do nothing and charge the government double.

[seriousstan]

6. Here you go....

In 1934, Erik Philip-Sörensen founded Hälsingborgs Nattvakt in Helsingborg, Sweden and after several acquisitions, the company became Förenade Svenska Vakt AB. In 1972, all security companies owned by Philip-Sörensen were gathered under the collective name Securitas. The logotype of three red dots – for Integrity, Vigilance and Helpfulness – quickly became a well-known symbol, first in Sweden, then internationally.

In 1989, Securitas began expanding internationally when it acquired security companies in Norway, Denmark and Portugal and then established an operation in Hungary. The company went public in 1991 and by January 1992, it had acquired two of Europe's leading security companies: Esabe in Spain, and Protectas in France, Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Between 1992 and 1998, Securitas made more acquisitions in Austria, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Switzerland, Spain, Sweden, Poland and Portugal. In 1999, Securitas developed a platform in North America with Pinkerton’s, Inc., the company’s largest acquisition to date. During the next year, Securitas purchased several more U.S. security companies, and acquired Burns International in August 2000. In July 2003, the combined American acquisitions became Securitas Security Services USA, Inc., a leading security company that works with more than 80 percent of the Fortune 1000 companies and has annual revenues in excess of $2.5 billion. Today, Securitas has operations in over 30 countries worldwide.

They bought Pinkerton in '99.

http://www.securitasinc.com/

[sybylla]

4. I think the dog thing has been overhyped bordering on a sham

They have brought drug dogs to my school twice a year for 15 years and though the dog marks cars and lockers all the time, not once have they found drugs upon subsequent physical searches.

I remain unconvinced that most dogs, can be trained to sufficient enough standards to be useful in "sniffing" endeavors.

[Village Idiot]

5. maybe fido had a cold?

[FlaGranny]

7. I wonder if these

dogs were in "working" mode. Dogs will work when told to, expecting a reward for their work. But if the handlers are just standing around talking, the dog is probably not paying attention either. Most dogs won't work on their own, they have to be directed. If you've taught your dog to do tricks for rewards, you know the dog isn't going to do the tricks for you unless you're there and you are paying attention. This seems like a case where the HANDLERS were the ones with the biggest problem. I don't believe dogs are perfect, but they are certainly capable of doing a decent job of detecting.

[phoebe]

8. agree - dogs have an extraordinary sense of smell - 6 feet would be

well within their range of detection.

Have a feeling that this is also another "fear, terror, fear, terror, fear terror" story to alarm city residents and for them to want to cough up more money for "security" measures.