by Jason Kleymann
Daily Lobo
It's been eight months since the UNM Police Department purchased Ultra, a bomb-sniffing dog.
But there have not been any bomb threats for more than a year.
Ultra and his handler, partner and life-long buddy Officer Eric Miller are one of five explosives-detection canine teams in the Albuquerque area.
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Ultra joined Miller with the department after the two graduated canine training school in June 2005.
"The chief made a decision in light of the current homeland security situation that an explosives-detection dog would be an asset to our department," said Lt. Patrick Davis, spokesman of the department.
They replaced the department's previous canine unit, which was a drug-detection and patrol dog that retired in 2004.
It costs about $8,000 to start a canine unit program, which includes the dog, training and certification, Davis said.
The canine team performs preventative sweeping of large events, such as men's basketball games, and responds to all alarm calls during their patrol.
Student Heather Pelletier said with rising tuitions costs and departmental funding cuts, she does not think a canine unit is a justifiable expense.
"I just think getting a bomb-sniffing dog is ridiculous," Pelletier said. "How often has there been a bomb on UNM campus, to justify a bomb-sniffing dog?"
There was one bomb threat at UNM on Jan. 24, 2005.
Ultra is a Belgian Malinois, a breed similar to a German Shepard but a slightly smaller, lighter, more agile and energetic, according to the American Belgian Malinois Club's Web page.
Miller said the biggest problem he faces with his canine partner is people coming up and trying to pet the dog.
"Police dogs aren't mean - it's a misconception," he said. "Ultra is a trained dog, and some movements or gestures he interprets as being aggressive."
Ultra, who lives with Miller, is described as playful in training and just like any other household dog.
"But when he's at work, he knows he's at work," Miller said.
Ultra and Miller train with the canine teams of the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office, a program headed by Deputy Kevin Sheldahl, a 14-year veteran in canine training.
Sheldahl said he trains all types of dogs in the program, including drug-interdiction units, patrol canines and cadaver-finding dogs.
"If all canine work was just running down bad guys, I'd be out of a job," Sheldahl said.
Student Billy Frazier said he thinks the explosives-detection canine is excessive for UNM.
"I don't think the University is anyone's first bomb target," Frazier said. "You have to wonder if this is a prestige move for the University. I think they are perpetuating paranoia about terrorism."
Sheldahl said the canine unit is in the best interest of the University.
"While we don't necessarily have to worry a lot about foreign terrorists, we still do have to worry about domestic terrorism; we're not immune at all," Sheldahl said.
