Loki & Jim

THE COMMUNITY JUSTICE S.C.E.N.T. K-9 PROGRAM

(Updated 2-4-08)

PROGRAM UPDATE:

As of 12-31-07, the Community Justice K-9 team  has performed 99 home and vehicle searches resulting in 54 arrests and narcotics evidence being seized in 82% of those cases. 

The following narcotics have been seized:

* 142.7 grams (5.1 oz) of methamphetamine

* 60 grams (2.1 oz) of heroin

* 3.221 grams (7.2 pounds) of marijuana, plus 16 plants

Those searches also resulted in the seizure of 13 firearms, 5 explosive devices, including a hand grenade, 79 edged weapons and a motel room full of stolen merchandise.  The team found stolen firearms from a residential burglary that sent two offenders to prison.

PROGRAM INFORMATION:

Southern Oregon is in the midst of a drug epidemic.  Methamphetamine alone is believed to be the source of more than 80% of the property crimes in the state. 

The Community Justice S.C.E.N.T. program (Special Canine Enhanced Narcotics Team) is a bold approach to impact the local drug trade by targeting parole and probation clients who are using, selling and making illegal drugs.  A narcotic-detection canine team has been developed and trained to perform parole and probation searches.  Drug dogs are proven assets in police departments around the world, yet very few parole or probation departments have discovered this reliable, dynamic drug-fighting tool.

A drug dog has the ability to sniff out narcotics hidden in the most ingenious places, which human searchers alone would not be able to find.  The dog can check a room in a matter of minutes, saving officers hours of searching.  In addition to helping reduce crime at the source and taking drugs off the street, a drug dog is a fantastic ambassador to our children at schools and community functions, helping to teach the dangers of using drugs. 

Our drug dog is “Loki,” a happy and playful black Labrador retriever that generates friendly feelings everywhere he goes.  His favorite thing in life is to play fetch and it is his reward for finding drugs. 

The S.C.E.N.T. program is a locally supported program that directly benefits the community. 

* The Carpenter Foundation of Medford provided an $8,000 grant to start the program. 

* Oregon Retrievers, a renowned Labrador breeding kennel in Phoenix, donated Loki. 

* Veterinary services are provided by Phoenix Animal Hospital. 

* Rainey’s Feed and Hardware in White City donates top-quality food to meet Loki’s nutritional needs.

ABOUT THE TEAM:

LOKI:

Loki is an athletic male black Labrador retriever donated by Tom and Sue Ross of Oregon Retrievers in Phoenix.  He was born in December 2000, and sold as a pet.  His owner kept him for three years then returned him to Oregon Retrievers.

Loki, named after the Norse god of mischief, got a second chance and an invigorating career when parole and probation officer Jim Boeckl told Sue Ross he was looking for a high-energy Labrador for narcotics detection work.  Sue introduced Jim to Loki who showed intense drive and an obsession for retrieving.

Loki’s narcotics-detection training began under the guidance of Janine Wilson, a parole and probation officer and former K-9 handler in Josephine County.  Loki was taught to search for the odors of marijuana, methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine, and to sit when he detected them.  He is rewarded with his favorite retrieving toy.

In October 2004 Jim and Loki completed a basic narcotics-detection course with professional trainer Mary Ann Sampson of Far-Fetched Retrievers.  The team maintains certification with the California Narcotics Canine Association and/or the Oregon Police Canine Association.

Loki is a dog with two distinct personalities. When at home he is calm and “low-key,” and lounges on the couch or bed.  When it’s time to work, train, or play, however, a supercharger kicks in that boosts his drive and energy to incredible levels.

JIM BOECKL:

Jim started working with dogs at age 13 when he and his dad became involved in retriever field trials.  In 1993 he began five years of service in the field of animal control where he learned how to work with aggressive dogs and people.

“Working in animal control was the most challenging job I’ve ever had,” he says.  “The people who do that job deserve much more appreciation than they get.” 

In 1999, Jim moved to southern Oregon and began work at Community Justice.  He facilitated a cognitive restructuring class for offenders and brought his personal dogs into the classroom to reduce tension and learning barriers.  Jim was promoted to Parole and Probation Officer in 2001 and began developing the S.C.E.N.T. program in October 2003.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Q: What are the benefits of using a drug dog in parole and probation?

A: Approximately 75% of our supervised offenders have a history of drug abuse.  Many have drug convictions.  All of our supervised clients have a search condition in their parole or probation conditions that require them to consent to a search if there is reason to believe a violation will be found.  This gives parole and probation officers the opportunity for find drugs, guns and other items offenders should not have.

* A drug detection dog is a pro-active tool to hold our offenders accountable for drug activities.  Our team is also assists local police with their drug investigations.

*  A drug dog works fast and can check a cluttered room or car in a few minutes, saving officers hours of tedious searching.

*  A dog can find drugs that officers would never find.  Dogs have detected drugs that were hidden in sealed containers that were placed inside the gas tanks of vehicles.

*  Loki helps deter offenders from smuggling and using drugs at our work center, juvenile and residential facilities by performing random searches.

*  Loki is a wonderful ambassador to children to help educate them about the dangers of drug use.

Q: Where does Loki live?

A: Loki lives with Jim, who provides 24-hour care for him.  Some working dogs are kept in kennels to keep their drive high, but Loki’s drive is extremely high so that’s not an issue.  As a result, Loki lives in the house and sleeps on the bed or couch.  Loki’s hobbies include playing fetch in the lake, going along on mountain bike rides and bounding through the snow.

Q: Is Loki friendly?

A: We chose a Labrador retriever because they have a great reputation for being happy and friendly toward people and we wanted our K-9 to present that kind of image.  Many people ask if they can pet Loki but he is so focused on his job he doesn’t pay much attention to people.

Q:  Is Loki neutered?

A: Yes.  He is also vaccinated and licensed in Jackson County, and he’s proof that neutered dogs are not always fat and lazy.

Q:  How did you train Loki to detect drugs?

A: Loki has been trained with positive reinforcement techniques using his favorite retrieving toy as a reward for finding narcotic odors.  Positive reinforcement increases motivation to work and is used to train dogs for other activities such as agility, obedience, and Frisbee competition, as well as to train birds, dolphins, whales and seals. 

Q: Can Loki become addicted to the drugs he finds?

A: No.  Great care is taken to be sure Loki never has direct contact with narcotics.  Before Loki is deployed in a search, Jim walks through the location and checks for any hazards.  Jim also carries an extensive first-aid kit in the event Loki is exposed to a dangerous substance or injured.

For more information about the S.C.E.N.T. program, contact Jim Boeckl, 541-774-4957, or at boecklja@jacksoncounty.org