COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho — Idaho State Police dogs have a new skill in their toolkit as they take on the fentanyl crisis with their four legs and keen sense of smell.
The dogs can now detect fentanyl, which is often considered odorless or somewhat undetectable to humans. Idaho State Police Corporal William Adams, a canine handler in District 1, works with his black lab Sterling as his partner.
“He’s trained on five odors: methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, marijuana, and now fentanyl,” Adams said.
Adams knows firsthand the dangers officers face when searching vehicles. He experienced a real scare not too long ago while working as a trooper.
“Back when I was a trooper in Lewiston, I got poked by a needle a few years ago. So I’m very aware of the dangers,” Adams said.
Idaho State Police troopers often search cars, not always knowing what’s inside or what could harm them. Despite the risks, Adams remains committed to his work.
“It’s scary, but we don’t do this job because we’re scared. We do it to serve and protect the community especially the people in the state of Idaho,” Adams said.
Adams now feels a new sense of security thanks to his four-legged partner’s latest learned skill. While fentanyl may seem undetectable to humans, the trained police dogs can identify its scent.
“They say it’s odorless, maybe to me and you, but not to them,” Adams explained. “So whenever we get a canine alert on a vehicle, we search extra cautiously.”
The biggest benefit of having these dogs trained to detect fentanyl is the deterrent effect on people who might be carrying the drug.
“Their eyes get big and wide, and suddenly they become the most honest people on the planet,” Adams said, describing suspects’ reactions when they learn about the dogs’ capabilities.
The goal with this new tool for Idaho State Police is to better keep fentanyl out of communities.
The enhanced detection capability sends a clear message to those who might attempt to transport fentanyl.
“Everyone’s going to know we’re not messing around. If you have fentanyl in your car, our dogs will find it,” Adams said.
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