Bark is worse than flight

Rocco, a Burbank Police dog, was breathing and salivating heavily Wednesday just seconds after he got off a helicopter that had taken him to the Glendale Police gun range, where he searched and captured a suspect.

Rocco was anxious. It was his first time boarding a helicopter, said Burbank Police Officer Joel Rodriguez, who is Rocco’s handler.

“He knows it’s play time for him,” Rodriguez said.

Wednesday’s helicopter ride at the Benedict Airport in Pasadena was part of an annual training scenario for the police dogs. This year was the first time the exercise included the tri-city helicopter patrol program, which is made up of the Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena police departments.

“It’s a good thing for the dogs . . . especially when you are going to be deploying,” Rodriguez said.

The dogs have to become accustomed to the helicopters in case they are needed for tactical situations or disaster emergencies and must be flown to the incident.

Police dogs and their handlers must know how to approach helicopters so they don’t get hurt, Glendale Police Officer Maribel Feeley said. They should approach the front of the helicopter, not the rear because of the rotator.

Feeley must wear a seat belt and headpiece when she boards the helicopter.

Feeley’s dog, Yudy, went through the entire scenario, which required the K-9 to board a helicopter, fly to the Glendale Police gun range, find and catch a suspect, take a return flight to the airport and do another suspect apprehension exercise.

“She is very excited,” Feeley said of Yudy’s heaving breathing.

Yudy’s anxious state suggested to Feeley that she wanted to continue “looking for the bad guys,” so she can catch them.

The training scenarios are key for a police dog’s proficiency while it is on duty, she said.

“The more you exercise them to do the work, they will be ready for any scenario,” Feeley said.

While the police dogs have been training annually with the helicopters, Glendale Police Sgt. Steve Robertson said it was crucial for the K-9s to train with the tri-city helicopter patrol program in case they had to be deployed to each other’s cities.

The program was created as a way to enhance the level of service and save the cities money, he said.

They began working together last November and patrolled each other’s cities for two days a week.

The two days proved to a success because, Robertson said, they were catching criminals and were responding to calls faster than patrol cars.

They increased their patrol schedules to four days a week and are now looking to start a new seven-day program next week, he said.

By working together, the departments doubled the amount of hours spent in the air and patrolling without absorbing any additional costs, Robertson said.

 VERONICA ROCHA covers public safety and the courts. She may be reached at (818) 637-3232 or by e-mail at veronica.rocha@latimes.com.