Los Angeles County Sheriff Department Contract Bloodhounds

A. Two Bloodhound Handlers under a Board of Supervisor’s Contract.

B. No cost to requesting bureau, station, contract city, or agency as long as approved.

C. Available 24/7/365. Request through Homicide Desk @ (323) 890-5500.

SCENT IS EVIDENCE Scent Evidence is the collection and preservation of human scent used by a trained canine and handler, to trail to an individual, or to determine if there is a scent match to an individual subject or location.Humans can’t see, touch,or smell it.IT IS INVISIBLE EVIDENCE !

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• The dogs and handlers discussed here are for CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS…

• REQUEST these dogs through HOMICIDE BUREAU…(323) 890-5500.

• IF YOU NEED DOGS FOR A 920-C, and only for a 920-C, Please contact RESERVE FORCES BUREAU.

• These are two separate teams with totally separate functions!

HUMAN SCENT IS UNIQUE!

Studies by the FBI and Florida International University (among others) has shown that, “human scent is as unique as fingerprints, and that well trained dogs can differentiate one person’s scent from all others, and can follow that scent and match that scent to a person or item.”

LASD “Scent Evidence Program”

Early 1950’s, bloodhounds used by Search and Rescue1980’s, separate SAR team with just k9’s1995, Homicide Bureau request for “Specialized dogs for Crime Scene Investigations”.1996, “Scent Evidence Canines” started under S.E.B.2001, Handlers paid under “Board of Supervisors” contract2004, “Scent Evidence Canines” moved to Homicide BureauSince inception (1996) have assisted in over 3000 Investigations & Testified on over 200 cases.

Prerequisites for Bloodhound Use

Identify what SUSPECT has touched or been in contact with. ( i.e. door, window, drawers, etc. ), or item(s) suspect left behind.Secure these items to prevent anyone else from touching them.Make certain you have adequate back-up personnel for the K9 search, minimum 3-4 Deputies/officers.Call Homicide Bureau for authorization. (323) 890-5500

Tracking vs Trailing

TRACKING (SEB Canines) dogs follow a trail of odors caused by the physical passing of a person….ie: crushed vegetation, disturbed ground, etc. Tracking is not specific to any person. If a fresher track crosses an older track the dog will follow the freshest one. Most handlers feel tracking is only viable for a few hours. Tracking dogs will generally work right on the path…foot print to foot print.

TRAILING ( BLOODHOUNDS) dogs follow a trail of scent (odors) specific to the person the dog is given the scent of. It does not matter how many other people have been in an area, the dog will only follow the scent they were given. Scent trails last many days and/or weeks. Since the scent can be moved some by wind, etc, trailing dogs may work some distance from the actual path taken.

These terms are getting more and more frequently used interchangeably.

SCENT…SMELL…ODORIn the world of Bloodhound/Trailing dog handlers, the term “Scent” is generally used to describe the complex array of odors that comprise any one person’s scent as perceived by a canine.

A “Scent Trail” is the path of odors left by a person as they walk (or run, or ride) anywhere.

In reality, the three terms…scent, smell, odor… are pretty much interchangeable.

So just how do these dogs do it???

It’s easiest for us to “visualize” how these dogs work…

Picture in your mind, that as each person walks through an area, they leave a trail of colored particles…and that each person’s particles are a different color. Just as we can SEE each path, the dogs can smell each path.

A. Scent is preferably collected before any other type of crime scene work is done other than photographs.

B. Scent can be collected from anything the suspect had contact with…shell casings, window sills, car seats or handles, victim’s bodies, etc.

C. Scent is collected with an “S.T.U.” machine that will NOT remove or alter in any way, trace evidence on the item.

Scent Collection

Most common item we use for scent…one single expended casing!

Scent can be obtained from virtually anything the suspect had contact with, as well as any and every bodily fluid, bodily secretion and bodily excretion.A quick, but by no means complete list of sources of scent that I have SUCCESSFULLY used…Dead bodies…example, neck of a strangulation victimBlood, vomit, urine, feces, semenExpended bullet casings, bullet projectiles (ones that missed, ones that went through and through, and one removed from a body during autopsy.Bomb fragments, incendiary device fragmentsDrug paraphernalia, weapons of all sorts, ligatures, vehicles,. . .The list goes on and on…bottom line…

If it had ANY contact with a person…it has their scent!

Types of crimes we have successfully worked and testified on…

Bombings, ArsonsHomicides Rape/Sexual AssaultsViolent FeloniesKidnapping459, 211, 215, You have evidence? We have scent!

In training, we were able to identify who drove this truck after a 400 Lb. “fertilizer” bomb was detonated in it.

Canine/handler are well trained (documented)

Canine/handler have confirmed work success

Canine has documented history of successfully working “similar” conditions…age of trail, weather, etc. (case work or training)

Canine is started (trailing) where suspect is known, or assumed to have been.

Scent Evidence Is Admissible IF:

What Scent is NOT:Perfume/After shave or Body Odor (B.O.) It is NOT Affected by bathing, Perfume/After shave or Body Odor (B.O.) It is NOT Affected by bathing, nor Altered By Time or Environment.nor Altered By Time or Environment.

It is NOT Controllable by suspect, ie: latex gloves, etc.It is NOT Controllable by suspect, ie: latex gloves, etc.

If the suspect touched it, it has their scent…period!

The above bullet fragment weighed approximately 15 grains, or 1/30 of an ounce. It is part of a .22 bullet. Scent from this fragment led us to the suspect and eventual conviction.

What you need to know about scent…• Each individual has a unique scent• Even identical twins have unique individual scent• Well trained canines can differentiate one person’s

scent to the exclusion of all others• Well trained dogs can follow one person’s scent

even in the presence of thousands of other people’s scents

• Well trained dogs can identify a person based on scent samples

• A person’s scent trail lasts for days or weeks. Scent on evidence lasts for months or years.

How Can We Help Your Case?

•Crime scene response.

•Where does the scent trail lead you?

•Is this a serial offense?

•Suspect identification.

•Which of your suspects

match the scent collected

from the evidence?

•Location checking.

•Has your suspect been to a location?

There are two common erroneous investigator attitudes:

1. The Bloodhound must run the criminal down on the first trail, or the dog is not performing. Give the team a few chances…then evaluate.

2. The Bloodhound could find the criminal in a crowd of 100,000 and the investigator will not believe the outcome. If you call them out, and they give you information…act on it!

THE END…

And thank you for your interest in SCENT EVIDENCE.

For further information, questions, or advice, Please feel free to contact Ted Hamm at:TedHammK9s@gmail.com

You may call me 24/7 to ask questions about your case.Cell: (626) 786-6049 if no answer, immediately try…Pager: (626) 220-0211

TO REQUEST BLOODHOUND(S), call Homicide Bureau:(323) 890-5500