27 August 2022 | UNDSS Comms
On 26 August 2022, the Division of Headquarters Security and Safety Services (DHSSS) celebrated the graduation of Senior Security Officers Bobbie Mathew and Bernabe Gonzales and their partner dogs Kylie and Hana, respectively, from the Connecticut State Police K9 School in Meriden. Officer Gonzales and Hana spent time in UN headquarters at the end of August to begin their orientation process. Officer Mathew and Kylie incorporated this week after returning from leave. ¡°It will take a couple weeks for the dogs to get used to everything at HQ before we let them work by themselves. Noises, distractions and the large numbers of people can¡¯t be replicated at school,¡± says Lieutenant Robert Fealy from the Security and Safety Service in New York.
¡°Our K9 partner¡¯s presence has a deterrent effect to criminals while at the same time it enhances our level of security by their ability to detect explosive materials combined with other security measures in place,¡± said Senior Security Officer Bernabe Gonzales who has been with SSS since 2008 after being part of the Philippine National Police.
To graduate, both Senior Security Officers and their Labrador retrievers had to pass the explosive detection certification exam given by the State Police instructors at the end of the eight-week long course. The new dogs are currently preparing for the 77th session of the UN General Assembly which will be held on 13-27 September at the UN headquarters in New York, USA. These two additions will join the rest of the team, now formed of 10 teams composed of a handler and a K9 each, in HQ to support the safety and security of UN staff, delegates and visitors.
¡°K9¡¯s are a valuable tool in the security field as they can detect explosives better than any other available technology,¡± said Senior Security Officer Bobbie Mathew who has been with SSS since 2005 after serving in the United States Army.
The bond between each handler and their own K9 is exclusive, becoming a part of their family members. Typically, dogs will work until they are nine years old and will remain in UNHQ New York for their entire working career.