Local students hear from officers about their careers with Customs and Border Protection
Provided photo: (L to R) Ariane Wachob (Lyndonville), Deseree Brewer (Lockport), Samantha Pozzobon (Albion), Chandler Heary (Lockport) chat with Officer Kenneth Allore, Officer David Ambrosia and K9 Kay.
Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES
MEDINA – Students in the Security and Law Enforcement and Certified Personal Trainer programs recently had guest speakers in from Customs and Border Protection to talk about their careers and working with K9 Kay, who is a detector dog.
K9 Officer David Ambrosia and Officer Kenneth Allore, who are assigned to the Port of Buffalo, talked to the students at the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center about homeland security and the fight against terrorism and human and drug trafficking.
Officer Ambrosia told the students that he has been an officer for ten years and worked with Kay for four years. Canine officers agree to the additional responsibility of training and caring for their police K9s. Positions working with a K9 are highly coveted in law enforcement.
“I worked very hard to get this cool job,” he said. “I would advise you to learn about this job by interviewing people about it, working hard and making yourself likeable.”
Qualities of K9 officers are being approachable and friendly because they receive more attention from the public and have to interact with a wide variety of people.
Officer Ambrosia had to undergo additional and extensive training to prepare working with a K9. He told the classes that his partner Kay cost $75,000.
“She is a Dutch Shepard from the Netherlands and even has her own passport,” Ambrosia said. “She lives and travels with me.” “She is six and a half years old and still has a lot of life in her. But when she is ready to retire, I get to keep her.”
Officer Allore talked about searching vehicle and thanks to Kay’s “stereo” nose they are able to find narcotics and humans rather easily.
“She has an amazing ability to smell each components in any item. She helps us search vehicles, freight and people. You would be amazed at how clever people are trying to hide things when they go across the border, but nothing gets past her.”
The officers then went outside and demonstrated on a car and some boxes how Kay sniffs out drugs and human beings. The students were fascinated by how quickly she was able to find the hidden items, along with Officer Allore, who was hiding in the trunk, and how well trained she is.
“As always, I am very grateful when law enforcement professionals are willing to give of their time to help our students learn about different careers,” said Steve Browning, Security and Law Enforcement teacher.
