MEET AZIR: Fort Wayne’s one-eyed K-9 officer
Behind the scenes look at police dog training and the dedication required for narcotics detection
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA) - K-9 Azir may have lost an eye in August, but the Fort Wayne Police Department dog hasn’t lost any of his skill or enthusiasm for detecting narcotics.
He recently helped officers find about 66 pounds of cocaine during a traffic stop, with the drugs carrying an estimated street value between $600,000 and $800,000.
BACKGROUND: FWPD: Florida man charged after police find more than $600K worth of cocaine in truck
Azir is one of 15 dogs in FWPD’s K-9 unit, and his story offers a glimpse into the intensive training and dedication required for police dog work.
Officer Chris Faherty, a K-9 trainer with FWPD for almost 20 years, said the work requires significant commitment from both officers and their canine partners.
“This is a passion for us. These dogs, it’s not just something, it’s not just having an animal in your life,” Faherty said. “It’s something that we live and breathe with.”
“I spend more time with my partner than I do with my family.”
New K-9s undergo about 14 weeks of training before they can work on the street. The training involves repetitive exercises, like officers placing narcotics on cars. The dogs learn to detect the odors and alert officers.
“We let the dogs nose lead us, we follow them,” Faherty said. “It is hard, but the hard part is the monotony of it.”
“It’s a lot of repetition to get a dog to do that.”
Azir faced additional training challenges after losing one of his eyes in August. However, the setback didn’t significantly impact his abilities.
“It took him a moment to figure out his perception, but not long,” Faherty said.
The officer noted that positive reinforcement, including giving Azir his favorite toy, when he successfully locates narcotics helps maintain the dog’s motivation and skills.
Faherty said the recent cocaine seizure demonstrates the value of the K-9 program for the department and the community.
“To be able to have something like what just recently happened with Azir,” he said. “It shines a great light not only for that team, but for all 15 dogs and then for the department that they’re out there to do something exciting for that, to take something like that off the street and get it away from the public.”
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