• July 3, 2018

PRESS RELEASE: FEBRUARY 22, 2018: LOS ANGELES COUNTY PROBATION CANINE DETECTION TEAM DISCOVER CACHE OF WEAPONS

PRESS RELEASE: FEBRUARY 22, 2018: LOS ANGELES COUNTY PROBATION CANINE DETECTION TEAM DISCOVER CACHE OF WEAPONS

PRESS RELEASE: FEBRUARY 22, 2018: LOS ANGELES COUNTY PROBATION CANINE DETECTION TEAM DISCOVER CACHE OF WEAPONS 458 472 WPPRO Administrator

For Immediate Release:
February 22, 2018

Los Angeles County Probation Canine Detection Team Discover Cache of Weapons

An Illegal Assault Weapon Among the Firearms Discovered by K-9 Penny and her Handler

Glendora, CA — An illegal AK-47, three handguns, ammunition and a bag full of high capacity magazines were discovered yesterday by a Labrador retriever named Penny and her handler, members of the Los Angeles County Probation Department Canine Detection Team. The discovery was part of a routine probation compliance search at the residence of an individual on probation in Glendora who was not permitted to have access to firearms. The probationer and his brother, the alleged owner of the illegal assault rifle, were subsequently arrested by the Glendora Police Department.

Penny first detected the scent of several ammunition boxes in the living room and the adjacent dresser drawer, both of which contained a large amount of ammo. The team then searched the defendant’s bedroom where Penny alerted on a green bag which contained 2 handguns. She also notified her handler of an open black gun case under the bed. The gun case contained a third handgun. Moving on to the garage, Penny alerted on a bag that contained several loaded high capacity magazines while the human components of the team found an AK-47 assault weapon in a locked cabinet (see attached photos).

In November 2016, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved and funded the implementation of a K-9 detection program for the Los Angeles County Probation Department which would be specifically trained in the detection of illicit narcotics or firearms.  Last November, The Department procured three dogs. In addition to Penny who is trained to detect firearms and ammunition, Springer spaniels Chloe and Lola are part of the team and are trained to detect narcotics. Chloe, Penny and Lola joined their handlers in over 80 hours of training in K-9 handling and detection before the dogs and their Deputy Probation Officer handlers went into action.  Since November, the Canine Detection Team has found ammunition, cocaine and over a pound of marijuana during routine residential probation operations.

“The dogs and the handlers that make up the Canine Detection Team have become an effective tool for L.A. County Probation,” said Reaver Bingham, Probation Chief Deputy for Adult Services. “The K-9’s have become part of the probation family and are assisting the department in keeping weapons and narcotics off the streets of L.A. County.”

Semiautomatic rifle found.

Illegal AK-47 Assault Rifle Discovered by the Los Angeles County Probation Canine Detection Team

Ammunition found.

Ammunition Discovered by K-9 Penny and the L.A. County Canine Detection Team

Guns found.

Three Handguns Discovered by Penny, a Labrador retriever who is part of the Los Angeles County Canine Detection Team

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