Over 30 police dogs from all over the state, and Bucks County, Pa., assembled at Liberty State Park in Jersey City for an FBI run homeland security drill on Thursday morning. The purpose was to get the K-9’s cops used to riding on a first responder boat to an emergency scene and sniff out drugs or explosives.
A US Coast Guard cutter was anchored in front of the Statue of Liberty, and the emergency boats would transport the dogs, lift them over and into the cutter, to do their searching.
The Boats came from numerous law enforcement agencies as well as two fire boats from the North Hudson Regional Fire & Rescue and one from the Bayonne Fire Department. Law enforcement boast came from such agencies as the FBI, New Jersey and New York state police and the NYPD.
To some dogs, it was a natural riding on the boats and sightseeing. Others were nervous of their surroundings, but they all completed their duties.
This was the second such drill conducted in our area by the FBI. When help is needed, the FBI knows what agencies to call for assistance. All officials left with a positive report on the exercise.
