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Meet the Reading Police K9 Unit: |
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Graduated from the Reading Police Academy in 1987 and became a K-9 handler in 1992. Trained and Handled 2 Police Service Dogs. Trained my first K-9 "Bear" under RPD Training Officer Randal Habecker in 1992. He trained a second K-9 partner "Zor" in 1998/99. Trained 8 Patrol and scent detection teams for the Department. Directly involved with the training for 16 K-9 Teams within the Department and indirectly involved with several Berks County Law Enforcement K-9 teams over the years. As the Training Director, responsible for the training and inservice training for the K-9 Unit as well as immediate supervisor for the 6 K-9 teams and all K-9 related issues. My responsibilities also extend to current legal concerns, laws governing K-9 usage, and keeping abreast of local, state and federal case law as it pertains to K-9 utilization and related issues. Currently, I conduct approximately 800 hours of training and inservice training per year for the department. In the past year, I have attended over 400 hours of seminars on advanced Police K-9 training, tactical use and deployment, and legal updates The Reading Police Departments K-9 Unit is an "in-house" training program which utilizes some purchased dogs from working bloodlines but primarily dogs which are donated (privately and from rescues) that meet the qualifications required to be trained as Police service dogs. Training for the Police service K-9's and their handlers involves obedience, agility, article search, building search, area search, tracking (aggressive and non-aggressive), criminal apprehension, drive building, scent theory, olfactory and sense capabilities and understanding of how weather, temperature and wind play a role in area searches and tracking, etc. The training program, consists of basic skills to meet department certification standards, field training, advanced and tactical training, scent detection, and training each handler to become proficient decoys/helpers using various level bite sleeves, bite-suits, hidden sleeves (including wraps) and muzzles as well as teaching the basic concepts of recognizing and building drives and the skills needed as a decoy for drive building. The primary goal of the in-house training program is to teach each handler how to train his K-9 from the ground up, which allows each handler to "problem solve" in the field as well as the knowledge and understanding of how to train his/her next (and future) K-9 teams. Recently attended hundreds of hours of training sessions and trials with Melanie Becker in Schutzhund and PSA (protection sport). These training sessions have given me considerable insight into different concepts in drive building and foundation training that are adaptable for Police K-9 training. |
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[Home] [About / Contact Us] [Current Unit] [First Meeting] [K9 Unit July 2008] [Training July 2008] [Video] [Graduation] [Donations] [Store_b] [Photos] [Links] [Video] |
Officer Andrew Winters: Is a graduate of Millersville University with a BA in Sociology/Criminology and a minor in Business. While in college, he worked at the Lebanon County Prison as a Correctional Officer. Officer Winters was hired by the Reading City Police Department in January 2002. He is a 6 year veteran with the department. During his time with the RPD, he has been in patrol with multiple transfers to the Vice Section. He has also been trained as a Street Evidence Technician, a Bicycle Patrolman and is currently training for the K-9 Unit. His partner shown here is Rex
Officer Jason Linderman is a 5 1/2 year veteran of the Reading Police Department. During his time with the department, he was mainly assigned to the patrol division with a temporary transfer to the Vice Unit. Officer Linderman has been trained during his career as a Street Evidence Technician, Patrol Rifle Operator and a Field Training Officer. Currently, Officer Linderman has been assigned to the K-9 Unit. His partner shown here is “Frank the Tank”.
Officer Joshua Faust is a 5 1/2 year veteran with the Reading Police Department. Officer Faust graduated from Kutztown University in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. Officer Faust was hired by the Reading Police Department in January 2003. Since being hired by the RPD, Officer Faust has been assigned to the patrol division with 2 temporary transfers to the Vice Section and has also received Patrol Rifle training. Currently, Officer Faust is assigned to the K-9 Unit. His partner shown here is Rocky. 
Eric Goudy: Police officer for the city of Reading for 10 years. Worked as an evidence technician and did a 90 day transfer to vice. Currently assigned to the K-9 Unit / patrol division. 
Officer Hector R. Santiago - A 7 ½ year veteran with the Reading Police Department. He was raised in New York City and moved to Reading In 1996. Officer Santiago was hired on January 20, 2003. Since his time on the job, Officer Santiago had two temporary transfers to VICE. Prior to becoming a K9 handler, Officer Santiago was trained as a Street Evidence Technician, Valtox Tester and he is also one of the city’s trained bike officers. Officer Santiago and his partner, K9 Caine, had been patrolling the streets of Reading since April of 2010 when they graduated from basic patrol K9 training.
Officer Tina Fallstich - Bio information in near future.