The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) today graduated five troopers and canines from an eight-week training program. These canine teams will join 39 other DPS teams stationed throughout Texas, including six explosives-detection teams stationed in Austin.

“The DPS canine program has been integral in removing ton quantities of drugs off Texas streets and detecting criminal activity,” said DPS Director Steven McCraw. “The skills these newly trained troopers and dogs possess make them a force multiplier in protecting Texans and helping keep drugs out of our communities.”

The dogs for the program were acquired from private individuals, shelters, rescue groups and the Department of Defense. This canine graduation class includes two Labrador Retrievers, two Belgian Malinois and one Portuguese Water Dog, and they will all be used for drug detection. A Labrador/Border Collie mix also graduated, and will be assigned to an existing handler.

In 2012, DPS canine teams assisted in the seizure of approximately 22,000 pounds of marijuana, 535 pounds of cocaine, 69 pounds of heroin, 198 pounds of methamphetamine, 26 pounds of other drugs and $11.2 million in cash.