Death, Decomposition, and Detector Dogs: From Science to Scene, Second Edition is designed to help canine handlers, detectives, death investigators, crime scene personnel (including forensic laboratory personnel, technicians, and supervisors), and attorneys understand the science involved when utilizing human remains detector (HRD) canines as a locating tool. The book covers the basic anatomy and physiology of canine olfaction and the unique characteristics of their scenting ability that allows dogs to be trained to locate distinct odors. Using concise and clear explanations and photographs, the book reviews the science of forensic taphonomy. Factors that may affect the decomposition process are highlighted along with what the potential outcomes that may be encountered. The book examines how the odor of human remains is generated through various stages of decomposition and the manner in which environmental conditions in both land and water settings may affect that odor. Different types of background information that may help in determining possible search locations for missing individuals are included as well as assist the HRD canine handler in developing search plans are covered. Different tools and technologies that may be used in addition to an HRD canine team are included to help readers understand that are many ways to address searching for a decedent. Several case reports involving decedents, found in both land and water settings in addition to different weather conditions, are included to help the reader understand how the environment may have affected the condition of the decedent. This edition includes more case reports explaining how environmental factors were considered in HRD canine deployments in both land and water settings. Understanding which variables—and how such variables—can affect the state and condition of human remains, as well as dispersion of odor from human remains, will help canine handlers utilize their HRD canine more effectively as a locating tool. Death, Decomposition, and Detector Dogs, Second Edition will help HRD canine handlers and other law enforcement personnel be better prepared to meet the challenges of their jobs before, during, and after searches for the missing.

Dogs detect scent from a source that is carried to them in a plume by the wind. The most important tool for a detector dog handler to have on searches is a knowledge of scent plume movement or "scent dynamics" (the science of scent movement). Such knowledge resides primarily in scientific journals that are largely inaccessible to detector dog handlers and written in language that is difficult to understand. Detector Dogs and the Science of Scent Movement: A Handler’s Guide to Environments and Procedures retrieves, reviews, and interprets the results of pertinent scientific research on scent dynamics and presents these results in terms that are easier for handlers to understand. Information on the physiology of the dog’s nose, their sense of smell, and the properties of scent provide the essential information on the process of scenting. The composition of training aids for explosives, narcotics, human remains and other sources is discussed. Recommendations are made on the use of training aids, their placement during training, and the resulting availability of scent. Potential problems and handler errors in the use of training aids are also examined. The characteristics of scent plumes and how wind influences their movement are a key focus of the book. The primary task for the handler is to get the dog into the scent plume so that the dog can detect the scent and follow it to the source the handler seeks. As such, a knowledge of scent and scent plume movement will vastly improve the ability of the handler to accomplish this task. The influence of weather and physical settings such as terrain, vegetation, ground cover, soil and water on scent movement are examined in detail. Strategies for searching, detecting, and locating sources in all physical settings are presented. Specific effects associated with hills and mountains, fields and forests, bare soils and soils covered by vegetation, different soil types, and lakes and rivers are examined in detail. This includes specific recommendations are made about weather and physical settings that result in higher probability of success on searches. Detector Dogs and the Science of Scent Movement will be a vital resource for K9 handles in the private and public sectors—including in Homeland Security, law enforcement, and military settings—as well as a useful guide for lawyers, forensic, and investigative professionals who need to better understand K9 operations.

Over 3,200 total slides and pages … INTRODUCTION: Dogs have served in active service at the sides of their handlers for decades. They have been heroes, showing bravery under fire, saving lives (often losing their own), and bringing comfort to the injured and infirmed. The first recorded American use of military dogs was during the Seminole War of 1835 and again in 1842. In Florida and Louisiana, the Army used Cuban bred bloodhounds for tracking. During the US Civil War, dogs were used as messengers, guards, and unit mascots. The Army Quartermaster Corps began the US Armed Forces' first war dog training during World War II. By 1945, they had trained almost 10,000 war dogs for the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. Fifteen war dog platoons served overseas in World War II. Seven platoons saw service in Europe and eight in the Pacific. MWDs were trained at Fort Carson, Colorado, organized into scout dog platoons, and used in the Korean conflict for sentry duty and support of combat patrols. In 1957, MWD training moved to Lackland Air Force base (LAFB), Texas, with the Air Force managing the program. Throughout the Vietnam Conflict, the Military Police Corps used dogs with considerable success. Most of these were sentry dogs used to safeguard critical installations such as ports and airfields. A new dimension in canine utilization was realized when marijuana detector dog teams were trained and deployed to assist military police in suppressing illicit drug traffic. Sentry and marijuana detector dog teams were then deployed worldwide in support of military police. An important outgrowth of the conflict was the development of canine research and development efforts. These ongoing efforts were able to initiate the first steps toward developing a more intelligent and stronger military dog, training dogs to detect specific drugs and explosives, developing multiple-purpose dogs, and employing tactical dogs by electronic remote control. In the 1990s and early 2000s, MWDs were deployed around the globe in military operations such as Just Cause, Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Uphold Democracy, and Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. These teams were effectively utilized to enhance the security of critical facilities and areas, as well as bolster force protection and antiterrorism missions, allowing commanders to use military police CONTENTS: Military Working Dog Handler Medical Presentations (1,248 slides) Military Working Dog Handler Additional Medical & Dental Presentations (346 slides) Handler Training Medical Tasks Manual (50 pages) Design Guide for Military Working Dog Facilities (31 pages) VETERINARY / FOODBORNE ILLNESS SPECIMEN SAMPLE TEST AND SUBMISSION GUIDE (72 pages) Military Police - Military Working Dogs (58 pages) SOLDIER'S MANUAL AND TRAINER'S GUIDE MOS 91T ANIMAL CARE SPECIALIST SKILL LEVELS 1/2/3/4 (407 pages) U.S. Army MILITARY WORKING DOG MANUAL (136 pages) U.S. Air Force MILITARY WORKING DOG PROGRAM (51 pages) U.S. Navy MILITARY WORKING DOG MANUAL (206 pages) United States Department of Agriculture National Canine Operations Manual (194 pages) United States Department of Agriculture National Detector Dog Manual (274 pages)

Forensic geology is the application of geology to aid the investigation of crime. A Guide to Forensic Geology was written by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS), Initiative on Forensic Geology (IFG), which was established to promote and develop forensic geology around the world. This book presents the first practical guide for forensic geologists in search and geological trace evidence analysis. Guidance is provided on using geological methods during search operations. This developed following international case work experiences and research over the last 25 years for homicide graves, burials associated with serious and organised crime and counter terrorism. With expertise gained in over 300 serious crime investigations, the guidance also considers geological trace evidence, including the examination of crime scenes, geological evidence recovery and analysis from exhibits and the reporting of results. The book also considers the judicial system, reporting and requirements for presenting evidence in court. Included are emerging applications of geology to police and law enforcement: illegal and illicit mining, conflict minerals, substitution, adulteration, fraud and fakery.

A comprehensive guide to training and certifying K9 explosive detection teams Learn how to: - Train your K9 to detect and safely alert for explosive substances. - Conduct operational searches in buildings, vehicles, ships, and planes. - Train your dog for the specialized work of mine detection. In the high stakes realm of explosive detection, where even the smallest mistake can have fatal consequences, the margin of error is zero. Well trained dog-handler teams can play a key role in explosive detection, but only if their training is top notch. Dr. Resi Gerritsen and Ruud Haak have worked with police departments around the world to help them establish and improve their K9 explosive detection training programs, and in this book they share their expertise with handlers and trainers looking to enhance their own performance. They teach how to pick the right dog for explosive detection work, how to train the dog to detect explosives, and how to properly execute a variety of training and operational searches. They also provide some of the background knowledge you'll need about common explosives and the many factors that can influence a K9's work. Along with essential health and safety precautions for you and your dog, you'll also learn how to test and certify dogs and handlers to ensure excellent performance in the field.