New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
K9 Officer Ryan Isherwood knows exactly how dangerous explosives can be. While in Afghanistan in 2011 while on deployment as a U.S. Marine, his vehicle was blown to bits by a homemade bomb.
“I’m very thankful I lived through that,” Officer Isherwood. “It was something I’ll never forget.”
Fast forward to today and Officer Isherwood and his K9 partner, Xiro (pronounced zero), are beginning training to detect explosives and firearms.
Led by Bristol County K9 Lt. Kenneth Almeida and using training initiatives from the ATF and Mass. State Police bomb squad, the 16-week Explosives and Firearms Academy will focus on the detection of more than 20 different odors, most of which are found in a variety of explosives, from homemade to military and commercial grade. Xiro will also be able to detect the odors found in firearms components and chemicals.
When it’s all set and done next year, K9 Xiro and Officer Isherwood will be certified in explosives and firearms by the ATF and will join Lt. Almeida and K9 Will in the explosives and detection field of the BCSO K9 team.
“Ryan’s a true professional and his experiences as a Marine and as a firearms instructor will help him immensely in this academy,” Lt. Almeida said. “There’s no one else I’d take with me to go find a bomb or search a building.”
They just started Week 2 of 16 and all reports are Officer Isherwood and Xiro are doing great. We’ll keep you posted on their progress. Good luck team!
