International cooperation ensures drug enforcement, reduction

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Brandon Lenz
  • 821st Security Forces Squadron
THULE AIR BASE, Greenland --  Team Thule members were recently surprised to see and hear a dog at this remote Arctic installation.

A Danish Police Inspector and his canine counterpart paid a visit to Thule Air Base Jan. 25 - 28.

Farda Olsen, a 33-year-old Greenland native and Danish Police Inspector, and Kenzo, a 4-year-old, all-black German shepherd, arrived here from Thule's closest village, Qaanaaq, by helicopter.

Inspector Olsen and Kenzo are a Drug Detection Team capable of uncovering the popular European drug, Hashish. Kenzo's primary duty is detecting narcotics, but he is also trained for search and rescue to locate missing persons, defense of his handler and attack, if necessary.

"He is very unique," Inspector Olsen said. "In that he is one of only four all-black German Shepherds in Greenland."

Inspector Olsen has been a Police Inspector for eight years and has worked with Kenzo for the past three. The duo will work together for another five years and then Kenzo will be retired.

"I think it is awesome they have the opportunity to work together for so long," said Master Sgt. Dan Leon, 821st Security Forces Squadron Operations superintendent. "This will continue to make them the best team they can possibly be."

Unlike American police dogs, Kenzo conducts his building searches off leash. He is trained to attack only on command, so personnel in the areas he searches are completely safe. This also gives him the ability to sniff out anything on their person.

Another interesting difference between Kenzo and American police dogs is that when he alerts on something, he will bark continuously at the suspicious area as opposed to sitting.

After a demonstration of Kenzo's ability to discover hidden drugs and Inspector Olsen's handling skills, Col. Lee-Volker Cox, 821st Air Base Group commander, formally certified the team to search at Thule Air Base.

Following certification, their first stops were the base exchange, Greenland TelePost and several dormitories.

During their time here, Inspector Olsen and Kenzo were escorted by John Hansen, Danish Police Inspector, and Senior Airman Brandon Lenz, 821st Security Forces Squadron. They dedicated more than six hours searching nearly 20 buildings and facilities on base, which included dayrooms, hallways and individual offices when personnel were present.

"This visit by Inspector Olsen and Kenzo was another example of the great partnerships we have with Denmark and Greenland," said Colonel Cox. "Through this type of international cooperation, we're able to ensure continued drug enforcement and successful drug reduction efforts at the Top of the World."

 

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