On June 25, Master Trooper Derek Fisher and his K-9 partner Ritta, along with three other Indiana State Police K-9 teams passed the National Odor Recognition Test (NORT). The NORT is conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF).
The ATF’s National Canine Division (NCD) trains canines for Federal, state, local and international law enforcement and fire investigation agencies. The ATF is a leading source of specially trained explosives and accelerant detection canine teams.
The NORT was developed as a standardized method for evaluating a canine’s detection capacity to recognize explosive odors. Congress has recognized the ATF’s National Odor Recognition Testing Standard as the proficiency benchmark for effective canine explosives detection.
Fisher commented that the K-9's nose is a tremendous asset and they are capable of detecting up to 19,000 explosives combinations. He continued, "The main advantages in using the K-9 are their mobility and ability to search large areas and suspicious items relatively quickly for explosives."
Master Trooper Fisher is a 16 year veteran of the Indiana State Police. He is currently assigned to the Indiana State Police Special Operations Section as a Hazardous Device Technician and Explosive Detection Canine Handler. Fisher will primarily cover the northern third of Indiana but is available to respond to any critical incident statewide. Fisher is a resident of St. Joseph County.
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