“Tinkerbelle”, “AnnaBelle” and “Clyde” are Bloodhounds and are world-famous for their ability to follow scent from humans over very long distances or in complex environments. They can track people on trails that are days and in some cases weeks old. The Department’s bloodhounds also have specialized training with improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and improvised incendiary devices (IIDs): they are able to detect and identify human odor on exploded bomb and arson debris, making them invaluable assets in these types of cases.
“TinkerBelle” is an 8-year veteran with the Police Department in a career which now spans almost 10 years. During the last four years, she has been one of only three canines assigned to the FBI’s Human Scent Evidence Team, which travels throughout the United States to work domestic terrorism, major felonies and other high-profile cases. “Clyde” is owned by the FBI and on permanent loan to the City; his sister “Bonnie” is also in law enforcement and is assigned to the Long Beach Police Department. “AnnaBelle” is Officer Slavin’s latest protégé; she is being prepared to take over upon the retirement of “TinkerBelle”.
Because availability of dog resources can be limited, both K-9 teams are frequently requested by adjacent cities and other agencies to assist on a variety of cases. |
