June 2, 2026 • 8 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Bit of a treat for us this morning. We know
the canine unit of the Northern Territory Police do some
incredible work catching those breaking the law. Well, the dogs
in the drug sport are an integral part of the
Northern Territory Police Force and I'm very pleased to say
that joining us in the studio this morning, Senior Sergent
Meacham King now meet them overseas the dog squad.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Good morning to you.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Yeah, really good, great to have you in the studio now.
We've also got in the studio this morning, Senior Constable
Scott Pierson, Good morning to you, Katie.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
And of course, well.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
We've also got first Class Constable First Class Jake Cake's.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Good morning to you. Good morning, lovely to have you
all in the studio now.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
I can't go along without mentioning that we've also got
in the studio a couple of drug dogs, Eida and Kobe.
Good morning to them now. And they are the most
beautiful dogs, I tell you what, probably not thinking they're
the most beautiful dogs. If you happen to be transporting
some drugs around, though, you'll get yourself some serious trouble, now,
tell me, metcham We know that last time you and
(01:05):
I caught up, we'd heard about this operation at Casarina
where basically it was a whole lot of training happening
to really prepare should an incident unfold. Tell us a
little bit about that and how their dog squad's been involved.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
Yeah, So we ran the active Undefender incident at Casina
Square and the CDU campus in Danala in the city
and it worked really well. Total was six hundred and
fifty people involved, all up volunteers and the center. So
a lot of work with Saint John. So we managed
to test a lot of stuff we talked about and
as we spoke about before, why we did it, and
I think we've achieved all that, and again it's a
(01:42):
big thank you to all those role players that come
along and the rest of it. And in relation to
the boys, we wasted a lot of police and the
dogs were guys. They often drive around by themselves responding
to incidents. They're probably one of the first ones to
respond to this and they jumped on and had a
cracked and joined the teams at Casuarina. Let Scott and
Jake talk about how what their experiences.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
Yeah, so, Scott, I mean, what was it like for
you guys being part of that.
Speaker 4 (02:04):
Yeah, it was a really good experience. I hadn't done
anything like that previously, certainly not to that type of scale,
and it was good kind of working with some of
those other areas TRG and General Duties members as well
and Scott.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
So you're teamed up with Ida or Kobe neither right,
So and then of course we know that Will Jake's
in the process of sort of training with.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Which dog are you training with? The which dog have
you been paired up with?
Speaker 5 (02:34):
So I've been paired up with Kobe currently doing a
reteam as I do my course. Yeah, but we are
running three dogs on the course, so we are running
Kobe as part of my reteam. But then where we've
got two other new dogs either and you know, and
their handlers should be coming up sooner now with them
as well.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
They're beautiful dogs.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
I mean usually the dogs that come into the studio
are the massive German shepherds that we see what type
of dogs are the drug dogs.
Speaker 4 (03:00):
So we've got labradors here today, so either and you
know who are on our course have come from Border Force.
We do quite a bit of work and sourced a
lot of our dogs from there, and then we've got Kobe,
who she came from a breeder in Victoria, So yeah,
we've got a couple of dogs from that breeder.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
Yeah right, and what kind of like what you know,
distinct characteristics do you have to have like in a
good drug dog.
Speaker 4 (03:25):
So we obviously want them to have a high drive
and a high search intensity. I was actually just talking
to meet them before, like the ones we've just got
from Border Force. I've kind of updated their training a
bit recently and it's amazing to see how far they've
come along since then.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
And Scott tell us.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
About some of the work that they've been involved in,
like recently, or you know, some of the work that
you guys have done recently. I know that you're at
based in the Grass. I'm sure some people might be
in a happy to see rather than others.
Speaker 4 (03:54):
Some people might have been aware of our presence there,
but you know, look, we kind of work everywhere. We
did based on the grass recently, we've got a couple
of handlers down in Catherine that are killing it at
the moment, but we kind of work out the back
a bit. You probably want to see us, so freight
shards and the planes, airports and things like that.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
So the screening for the baggage or kind of slopes.
We'll go backside and screen all the bags before you
come and collect your your bags, and also at the front.
And one of the biggest stuff we're doing now is
working a lot with traffic. So traffic will book cars
over the call the dog and has to run the
dogs with the car because of the drive of the
occupants of the car out of history of drug use
or drug effective behavior, or they tested positive for drug driving.
(04:33):
So the boys will go out and run the dogs
for the cars and that'll lead on to other people
to lead to warrants. And like Scott mentioned, the guys
and the guy Marie and Scott and Catherine are doing
a lot of good work with the guys who then
said down there and Nick downer Alis is doing a
lot of work down there doing roadblocks of traffic and freight.
So yeah, very you don't like Scotts so you don't
see him in the background, but some of the stats
and stuff we get a.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
Quant So tell look, tell us about some of what
you've done over the last you know, throughout this year.
Speaker 4 (04:59):
Well, yeah, so far this year, I think we've kind
of located or assist in seizing over a kilogram of methamphetamine,
well seventeen and a half kilos of cannabis. So well, yeah,
we've got a bunch I think twenty two firearms and
over two hundred grund of cash as.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Well, so not just drugs like the dogs actually help out,
you know, to locate those kinds of things as well.
Speaker 4 (05:18):
Yeah, so we've recently got through Queensland Hope who I'm running.
She's a German Shepherd protection dog and she's actually trained
for drugs, cash and firearms, so she's pretty fun to work.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
She would be how awesome. I just think it's incredible the.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
Way that the dogs are part of the police force,
and that they are such an integral part of the
police force, and that they're able to help out in
ways that you know that a regular like that an
officer wouldn't be able to locate some of those differents.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
They're definitely forced mutipliers, except they're free to drive around.
Some vincecans pop up, they can back up units to
get there quickly if they have to, and I to
patrol dogs have got that dog for tracking with the
violent offenders and stolen cars and break in the houses
and sort of stuff. But the drug dogs especially they're
free to fo help traffic. They got the jobs there.
And also the community engagement stuff with you a lot
of community engagement go to events, coffee the cops, other
(06:10):
stuff and even dropping in the stations, taking the dogs
through it and gets to pat the dogs and were
our boost and well being thing. It's actually a big thing, is.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Yeah, and tell me, Jake, what's it been like? What's
it like then?
Speaker 1 (06:20):
When you you know, when you are sort of team
with another dog and you I guess you're getting used
to each other to some degree.
Speaker 5 (06:26):
Yes, So basically everything I thought I knew about dogs,
forget that. I got no idea. I didn't know lead
handling was even a thing. So it's week one was
very interesting to watch. I'm sure they get some videos,
but yeah, it's coming along.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
I feel like I'd ruined the police dog within a
week of spoiling it and you know, doing all the
things it's not meant to do.
Speaker 5 (06:49):
Oh, don't worry, I've been there to find out.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
Doing briefing is of Jake are very interesting. You don't
really well, but I haven't did a week yet.
Speaker 5 (06:59):
Where there's not yeah, you've done this wrong.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
But it's a.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
Pretty intensive course weeks and Jake's pretty lucky in the
fact that he's got experienced dogs to work with him.
And also with Jake of the course, with the number
of dogs. We have to pair the handle with the dogs. Yeah, right,
not a bond correctly. We have to shift it left
and right a little bit to make it work because
it's fifty percent do so. If the handle isn't meeting
the benchmark, we'll have to look at that.
Speaker 1 (07:22):
And so in terms of, you know, becoming a police officer,
we know is one thing, but then in terms of
becoming a police officer that wants to work with the dogs.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
Can anybody? Can any police officer do that?
Speaker 3 (07:33):
Or if we offer selection courses out to the members
and we're looking for members with three to four years
of experience, yea, then we have a three day selection
process where they come in, they do stuff with the
patrol dogs and the drug dogs, and basically at the
end of the three days we tell them whether they're
able to apply for patrol dog or drug dog or
both depending what their strengths are, and then they apply
for the position. And then when they come in there
(07:54):
on a six to nine mic probation period to see
if they can cut the mustard.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
Hey look at that, Jake, you got the dog to
bark on.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
Yeah, well, i'll tell you what's so good to catch
up with you all this morning. I really appreciate you
coming into the studio, Senior Sergeant Meacham, King Constable first
Class Jake Cakey's and of course Senior Constable Scott Pearson,
along with Ida and Kobe, who've behaved themselves beautifully in
(08:22):
the studio this morning.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Thank you all so much for your time. I really
appreciate it.
Bit of a treat for us this morning. We know
the canine unit of the Northern Territory Police do some
incredible work catching those breaking the law. Well, the dogs
in the drug sport are an integral part of the
Northern Territory Police Force and I'm very pleased to say
that joining us in the studio this morning, Senior Sergent
Meacham King now meet them overseas the dog squad.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Good morning to you.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Yeah, really good, great to have you in the studio now.
We've also got in the studio this morning, Senior Constable
Scott Pierson, Good morning to you, Katie.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
And of course, well.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
We've also got first Class Constable First Class Jake Cake's.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Good morning to you. Good morning, lovely to have you
all in the studio now.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
I can't go along without mentioning that we've also got
in the studio a couple of drug dogs, Eida and Kobe.
Good morning to them now. And they are the most
beautiful dogs, I tell you what, probably not thinking they're
the most beautiful dogs. If you happen to be transporting
some drugs around, though, you'll get yourself some serious trouble, now,
tell me, metcham We know that last time you and
(01:05):
I caught up, we'd heard about this operation at Casarina
where basically it was a whole lot of training happening
to really prepare should an incident unfold. Tell us a
little bit about that and how their dog squad's been involved.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
Yeah, So we ran the active Undefender incident at Casina
Square and the CDU campus in Danala in the city
and it worked really well. Total was six hundred and
fifty people involved, all up volunteers and the center. So
a lot of work with Saint John. So we managed
to test a lot of stuff we talked about and
as we spoke about before, why we did it, and
I think we've achieved all that, and again it's a
(01:42):
big thank you to all those role players that come
along and the rest of it. And in relation to
the boys, we wasted a lot of police and the
dogs were guys. They often drive around by themselves responding
to incidents. They're probably one of the first ones to
respond to this and they jumped on and had a
cracked and joined the teams at Casuarina. Let Scott and
Jake talk about how what their experiences.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
Yeah, so, Scott, I mean, what was it like for
you guys being part of that.
Speaker 4 (02:04):
Yeah, it was a really good experience. I hadn't done
anything like that previously, certainly not to that type of scale,
and it was good kind of working with some of
those other areas TRG and General Duties members as well
and Scott.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
So you're teamed up with Ida or Kobe neither right,
So and then of course we know that Will Jake's
in the process of sort of training with.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Which dog are you training with? The which dog have
you been paired up with?
Speaker 5 (02:34):
So I've been paired up with Kobe currently doing a
reteam as I do my course. Yeah, but we are
running three dogs on the course, so we are running
Kobe as part of my reteam. But then where we've
got two other new dogs either and you know, and
their handlers should be coming up sooner now with them
as well.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
They're beautiful dogs.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
I mean usually the dogs that come into the studio
are the massive German shepherds that we see what type
of dogs are the drug dogs.
Speaker 4 (03:00):
So we've got labradors here today, so either and you
know who are on our course have come from Border Force.
We do quite a bit of work and sourced a
lot of our dogs from there, and then we've got Kobe,
who she came from a breeder in Victoria, So yeah,
we've got a couple of dogs from that breeder.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
Yeah right, and what kind of like what you know,
distinct characteristics do you have to have like in a
good drug dog.
Speaker 4 (03:25):
So we obviously want them to have a high drive
and a high search intensity. I was actually just talking
to meet them before, like the ones we've just got
from Border Force. I've kind of updated their training a
bit recently and it's amazing to see how far they've
come along since then.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
And Scott tell us.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
About some of the work that they've been involved in,
like recently, or you know, some of the work that
you guys have done recently. I know that you're at
based in the Grass. I'm sure some people might be
in a happy to see rather than others.
Speaker 4 (03:54):
Some people might have been aware of our presence there,
but you know, look, we kind of work everywhere. We
did based on the grass recently, we've got a couple
of handlers down in Catherine that are killing it at
the moment, but we kind of work out the back
a bit. You probably want to see us, so freight
shards and the planes, airports and things like that.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
So the screening for the baggage or kind of slopes.
We'll go backside and screen all the bags before you
come and collect your your bags, and also at the front.
And one of the biggest stuff we're doing now is
working a lot with traffic. So traffic will book cars
over the call the dog and has to run the
dogs with the car because of the drive of the
occupants of the car out of history of drug use
or drug effective behavior, or they tested positive for drug driving.
(04:33):
So the boys will go out and run the dogs
for the cars and that'll lead on to other people
to lead to warrants. And like Scott mentioned, the guys
and the guy Marie and Scott and Catherine are doing
a lot of good work with the guys who then
said down there and Nick downer Alis is doing a
lot of work down there doing roadblocks of traffic and freight.
So yeah, very you don't like Scotts so you don't
see him in the background, but some of the stats
and stuff we get a.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
Quant So tell look, tell us about some of what
you've done over the last you know, throughout this year.
Speaker 4 (04:59):
Well, yeah, so far this year, I think we've kind
of located or assist in seizing over a kilogram of methamphetamine,
well seventeen and a half kilos of cannabis. So well, yeah,
we've got a bunch I think twenty two firearms and
over two hundred grund of cash as.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Well, so not just drugs like the dogs actually help out,
you know, to locate those kinds of things as well.
Speaker 4 (05:18):
Yeah, so we've recently got through Queensland Hope who I'm running.
She's a German Shepherd protection dog and she's actually trained
for drugs, cash and firearms, so she's pretty fun to work.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
She would be how awesome. I just think it's incredible the.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
Way that the dogs are part of the police force,
and that they are such an integral part of the
police force, and that they're able to help out in
ways that you know that a regular like that an
officer wouldn't be able to locate some of those differents.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
They're definitely forced mutipliers, except they're free to drive around.
Some vincecans pop up, they can back up units to
get there quickly if they have to, and I to
patrol dogs have got that dog for tracking with the
violent offenders and stolen cars and break in the houses
and sort of stuff. But the drug dogs especially they're
free to fo help traffic. They got the jobs there.
And also the community engagement stuff with you a lot
of community engagement go to events, coffee the cops, other
(06:10):
stuff and even dropping in the stations, taking the dogs
through it and gets to pat the dogs and were
our boost and well being thing. It's actually a big thing, is.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Yeah, and tell me, Jake, what's it been like? What's
it like then?
Speaker 1 (06:20):
When you you know, when you are sort of team
with another dog and you I guess you're getting used
to each other to some degree.
Speaker 5 (06:26):
Yes, So basically everything I thought I knew about dogs,
forget that. I got no idea. I didn't know lead
handling was even a thing. So it's week one was
very interesting to watch. I'm sure they get some videos,
but yeah, it's coming along.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
I feel like I'd ruined the police dog within a
week of spoiling it and you know, doing all the
things it's not meant to do.
Speaker 5 (06:49):
Oh, don't worry, I've been there to find out.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
Doing briefing is of Jake are very interesting. You don't
really well, but I haven't did a week yet.
Speaker 5 (06:59):
Where there's not yeah, you've done this wrong.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
But it's a.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
Pretty intensive course weeks and Jake's pretty lucky in the
fact that he's got experienced dogs to work with him.
And also with Jake of the course, with the number
of dogs. We have to pair the handle with the dogs. Yeah, right,
not a bond correctly. We have to shift it left
and right a little bit to make it work because
it's fifty percent do so. If the handle isn't meeting
the benchmark, we'll have to look at that.
Speaker 1 (07:22):
And so in terms of, you know, becoming a police officer,
we know is one thing, but then in terms of
becoming a police officer that wants to work with the dogs.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
Can anybody? Can any police officer do that?
Speaker 3 (07:33):
Or if we offer selection courses out to the members
and we're looking for members with three to four years
of experience, yea, then we have a three day selection
process where they come in, they do stuff with the
patrol dogs and the drug dogs, and basically at the
end of the three days we tell them whether they're
able to apply for patrol dog or drug dog or
both depending what their strengths are, and then they apply
for the position. And then when they come in there
(07:54):
on a six to nine mic probation period to see
if they can cut the mustard.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
Hey look at that, Jake, you got the dog to
bark on.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
Yeah, well, i'll tell you what's so good to catch
up with you all this morning. I really appreciate you
coming into the studio, Senior Sergeant Meacham, King Constable first
Class Jake Cakey's and of course Senior Constable Scott Pearson,
along with Ida and Kobe, who've behaved themselves beautifully in
(08:22):
the studio this morning.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Thank you all so much for your time. I really
appreciate it.
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