Bloodhound Puppies Start School
by Laura L. Sullivan, Public Relations Specialist
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The Pasco County deputy shuffles his feet to lay down a strong scent in the dirt at the edge of the field and then stalks through the waist-high dry grass. When he drops to his belly he disappears completely. Only then does the tiny, wrinkly, wiggly ball of olfactory receptors – otherwise known as bloodhound puppy Holmes – come out of the Tahoe and get to work.
“Watching these little guys track is unbelievable,” said Corporal Rob Wilkins, lead bloodhound trainer at the Pasco Sheriff’s Office (PSO). “We work so hard trying to get patrol dogs (shepherds and Malinois) to track, but these puppies just do it. We just have to expose them to everything, and they pick it up so fast.” The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office’s (PCSO) new bloodhounds Holmes and Duke will be training at the PSO K9 facility for nine months before they are ready for duty. PCSO bloodhounds will mostly track missing persons.
Deputy Dalton Schomp leads Holmes to the scuff marks in the dirt. The pup puts his nose to the ground and makes a beeline through the tall grass to the concealed deputy, who happens to be holding a cup of kibble. Right now they’re getting about 50 percent of their meals from tracking training. PCSO patrol dogs work for their tug toy and playtime as a reward, but bloodhounds are food motivated.
The handler is being trained too. He must observe every nuance of his dog’s reactions. At this stage, the handler knows where the track is, but the puppy doesn’t. “He’s not driving the dog, but he’s watching the dog’s behavior as he’s tracking,” said Corporal Wilkins. “So if the dog gets off the track he knows what that looks like.” The handler needs to know how the dog behaves when he loses the scent. They’re a team, so they have to work through any mistakes or confusion together. Handlers need to understand how things like wind, temperature, or ground cover can alter a scent trail so they can help their partner get back on the right track.
Tracking training is a long incremental process. When the pups began, the person they were “tracking” just walked away, staying in plain sight. Once the pups mastered “finding” them, the tracked subject moved farther away, and finally added the element of concealment. “You make that transition where it’s hey, I can’t see the guy anymore, I have to use my nose to find him.” Early tracks are in a straight line, but soon they’ll mix it up by adding curves and obstacles. Later they’ll increase the distance and add time delays. Once fully trained, the pups will be able to track a cold scent for miles.
They’ll need to be in peak physical condition for those long tracks and the workouts begin now. “They’re puppies and they’re just made of jello, so we need to build their conditioning,” Corporal Wilkins said. This starts with long marches in the woods. Rob takes point and the five pups follow him off-lead. “I’ll go over something, and they’ll all scramble over too, then stop and fight and play with each other.” The five pups – two from the PCSO, three from PSO – are brothers. “I think them all being together is confidence-building.” They just started taking walks through the woods on their leads… which they immediately got tangled in the underbrush and each other.
Being exposed to as many different things as possible at this age is crucial to their future success. “Every little thing we can think of, we’re throwing at them,” Corporal Wilkins said. “Surface changes, terrain changes, anything we can get them on, we do it now.” Once they’re adults it can be too late to get them used to new things. So they’re learning what it feels like to have cement, or pine needles, or puddles, or even ice under their paws. PSO has a rubble pile that they use to train the search and rescue dogs who work at disaster scenes, and the bloodhounds have started to scramble over this too. They have to be used to the sights, sounds, and scents of any environment they might encounter so nothing distracts them from their vital job of locating missing people.
Deputy Schomp is impressed by his young partner’s abilities. “It’s pretty unbelievable that they can go out and find a person this young.” Even though multiple people are crossing the field during the training, the pups stick to their track. “There can be some distractions – they’re young and still learning – but once they’re on the scent and know what they’re looking for they stick to it.”
Holmes seems to love his work. “He’s very playful,” Deputy Schomp said. “He loves any kind of toys, and he loves playing with my other two dogs. He has a lot of energy and loves to run. He keeps me on my toes! I’m excited by the process and by how far we’ve come already.”
Holmes and Duke train hard, play hard… and sleep hard. “They work, eat, nap, and work some more, and have a lot of fun,” said Deputy Schomp. It’s a good life for a puppy and great training for the PCSO’s youngest employees.
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Chain of Command: Corporal
by Laura L. Sullivan, Public Relations Specialist
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The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO), like other law enforcement agencies, has a rank structure that runs from deputy all the way up to the sheriff himself. Rank is important for oversight, distribution of responsibilities, instruction, and leadership. In this new series in Inside the Star we’ll explore all the different ranks – corporal, sergeant, lieutenant, captain, major, colonel, assistant chief, and chief – and learn about the responsibilities and challenges of each one. Today, we focus on corporals. You’ll be able to spot a corporal by the two stripes on their sleeve. (If you ever see a deputy with one stripe, that’s a Field Training Officer, which is a positional insignia, not a rank.)
Corporal is an appointed rank and not technically considered a promotion. Nonetheless it is a leadership role and often the first step toward further advancement. A corporal must be an expert in all the things deputies do. “Corporal is a front-line supervisor position,” says Corporal Anthony Bell of the Detention Court Squad. “A corporal works alongside the deputies they supervise and must be able to fill in immediately if needed to work any of the positions.”
As an intermediary between deputies and the sergeant, corporals must be conscientious of both. “A corporal’s main responsibility is to assist the sergeant in managing deputies that work for them,” says Corporal Damon Laney of the DUI Unit. “A corporal also helps develop and build deputies to be more well-rounded. When a sergeant is off, the corporal is responsible for the squad and for making the decisions.”
When a corporal is promoted within the unit where they’d previously been a deputy, it can be hard to take on a leadership role with people who were your peers the day before. “It was a little difficult at first stepping into the role of corporal of the DUI Unit,” Corporal Laney said. “I was a member of that unit and worked with them for years. Now I needed to find that fine line from working beside them to supervising them. I didn’t want to become that supervisor no one wants to work for, but I also needed to make decisions that might not make everyone happy. I try not to forget who I am, and lead from the front.”
Unlike most other ranks, there is no test to become a corporal. When a corporal position opens, interested members submit a memo and a Selection Board examines their work history, performance evaluations, and talks with their current supervisor.
There are many different paths to becoming a corporal. Corporal Reginal Harris, who works Patrol, has been with the PCSO for 17 years and has always dreamed of becoming a sergeant, because his father was a sergeant in the military police. When a corporal position opened up he submitted his memo and later received a message to report to the major’s office. As he was wracking his brain trying to figure out what he could have possibly done wrong the major told him he was the new squad corporal.
Corporal Jane Hanna is a detective with the Crimes Against Children (CAC) unit. (When a deputy works as a detective in an investigative component, their title is “Detective” instead of “Deputy” but rank is always used as a title, even with detectives, so they are still called Corporal, Sergeant, etc.) She was mentored and inspired by the corporals and sergeants she worked with there. “One day Sergeant Schofield, who was my corporal at the time, made a comment about taking on an active role to effect change, and it stuck with me.” Those words inspired her to take on more responsibilities, help train new detectives, expand her knowledge, and teach CAC classes within the agency and at public education programs. When the corporal position opened, she was ready.
Some see the rank of corporal as a steppingstone, while others find a home there. Corporal Bell says, “I love my current assignment and the time it allows me to spend with my family.” A promotion might mean leaving a unit that’s a perfect fit. “I like the team aspect of a small unit like the Detention Court Squad,” he said. “We have selected some of the best deputies in the agency to work here, and I feel fortunate to be one of their leaders.”
Corporal Harris plans on becoming a sergeant one day, but his ambitions don’t stop there. He thinks Major Harris has a good ring to it. And once he retires, he’s aiming even higher. “I believe I owe it to my family and the City of St. Petersburg [where he lives] to give back to my community that has trusted and believed in me on this journey. I hope one day when my career is over at the PCSO to go on and become the Chief of Police with the City of St. Petersburg.”
Inspiring the deputies who look to them for guidance is one of the main responsibilities – and biggest rewards – of being a corporal. “My leadership role is important to me,” said Corporal Brandy Rushing who works South Division in the jail. “Being a leader isn’t solely about authority. My leadership philosophy is to provide my squad with direction and vision, while motivating and inspiring them to achieve their career goals and become proficient in their duties and responsibilities.” In helping others, she helps herself excel. “Being a corporal has contributed to my overall confidence as a leader and supervisor.” Her time as a corporal is laying the foundation for everything she’ll need to be a successful sergeant one day. “I’ve acquired the confidence to make sound decisions, use proper judgement, interpersonal skills, and leadership abilities.”
Being a good corporal also helps keep fellow PCSO employees safe, whether on the road or in the jail. Corporal Trina Landrum-Black, who works Central Division in the jail says, “I feel honored and blessed to have the opportunity to step into a leadership role because I want detention personnel to feel safe and valued.” Good leadership inspired her to be the leader she is today, even when the job hasn’t been easy. “I’ve had the opportunity of working with some incredible, strong, and wise women in my career who have taught me how to endure during difficult times and challenged me to overcome my insecurities. As a leader, I take pride in constantly motivating others to see something new in themselves.”
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PCSO Community Policing Corporal Honored
by Laura L. Sullivan, Public Relations Specialist
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Community Policing Corporal William Lawson Jr. was presented with the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance’s (IMA) Legacy Award, which honors African American leaders who have created a lasting impact. “I’ve been a part of the Legacy Week event for the past six years, assisting with behind the scenes projects like helping with the golf tournament or playing my guitar for live music during dinner,” Corporal Lawson said. “I was always totally amazed listening to past honorees’ accomplishments and community service. I said to myself, wow, I have work to do! Never once did I think of anything I’ve done that could remotely measure up to Legacy honorees.”
The IMA didn’t agree, and honored Corporal Lawson, along with two other St. Petersburg residents, at a recent ceremony at the St. Petersburg Museum of History. Reverend J. C. Pritchett II, IMA executive director, emphasized how important it is to have fine examples of men and women in law enforcement who are role models and heroes.
Corporal Lawson said that some people may not think that some of what he does is “real” police work, but forging bonds with the community is just as important as arresting bad guys – and Corporal Lawson does both. “It’s rewarding to swear in safety patrols or see the smile on a child's face as they receive a toy during our Christmas Sharing program, or being a conduit between Toys for Tots and local mentoring organizations,” Corporal Lawson said. “Or receiving a hug from a parent after giving them a holiday meal when they didn't know if they would have a meal for the holiday. One of my proudest moments was co-hosting a meet and greet event with Graydi Family Center staff to connect residents from the Rainbow Village Housing Complex with Pinellas Habitat for Humanity.” Now one of the residents he brought there is a homeowner.
“Giving out PCSO swag gifts and Junior Deputy star stickers doesn’t solve crimes, but what I do yields connections with community leaders and residents that helps lead to a safer Pinellas.” The community Policing he does runs the gamut from helping out kids to fighting crime. “I’m a firm believer in traffic control, crime mitigation initiatives, and taking the bad guy to jail.”
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Community Grant Applications Are Open |
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Every year the Sheriff’s Citizens Association funds local initiatives through its Community Grant Program. Awards of up to $1,000 will be given to programs that empower youth, support children and families, or to programs founded by young people. Funds for the award come from Citizens Association members’ annual dues and donations throughout the year. Last year the Citizens Association gave a total of $15,000 to worthy initiatives.
The Sheriff’s Citizens Association is a networking group of people who are dedicated to supporting and learning more about the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO). A committee votes on the winners. If your organization could use a little help in helping the community, please apply here. The application deadline is March 31, 2023.
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