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The New York City Police Department recently deployed new dog unit technology to help deter terrorist attacks — and keep the Big Apple’s subway system safe.
The technology is called TREDD, which stands for Transit Enhanced Detection Dog.
It takes the bomb-sniffing dog idea to a whole new level.
TREDD is an advanced explosives detection system. It pairs dogs trained in explosives detection with special harnesses outfitted with electronics.
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The sensors in the harnesses allow the dogs to detect radiation and other biological or chemical agents that the dogs nose cannot detect.
Lt. John Pappas, commander of transit office K9, located in Queens, created the concept. Through intelligence agencies, he realized that terrorist organizations were finding ways to circumvent the city’s anti-terrorist security measures.
The NYPD’s K9 unit uses new technology that detects radiation and other biological or chemical agents, Fox News exclusively reported.
(Fox News)
“What I’ve found in the intelligence community … is that international terrorist organizations like al-Qaeda, ISIS and many others have intentionally created a loophole in our dog-specific detection capability,” he told Fox News.
“They kind of geared it up to avoid being spotted by a dog.”
“They started designing unconventional explosive devices, things they knew about – because they’re studying us – that these dogs can’t see. Regular explosives like TNT and C-4 and dynamite, they know those dogs can spot them. So they went a different route.”
The sensors on the dog’s harness send readings in real time to a mobile command center.
Using grants, Lt. Pappas and the NYPD partnered with Massachusetts-based private technology company Blueforce Development Corporation to bring his idea to life.
NYPD members can track dog harness readings — and respond in real time.
(Fox News)
After the harness was created, the NYPD partnered with the FDNY to create a training program to determine what the sensors can detect — and how to make sense of the readings.
The sensors on the harness send readings in real time to a mobile command post. NYPD members are then able to follow the readings and react in real time, giving the commander eyes and ears on the ground.
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“I can stay in one place. I can follow them everywhere,” said NYPD official Edwin Ramirez, one of the trainers.
“So if we have a team in Brooklyn or a team that’s been sent to Manhattan, I can pull them up and at the same time see where they are — without being there — and get all the metrics and information from them.”
Lt. Pappas said he used TREDD dogs during the April 12 subway shooting in Brooklyn.
A dog from the New York City Police Department’s K9 unit at work – and equipped with a slick new harness – on the subway system.
(Fox News)
“We had these units stationed there and I knew exactly where they are. I knew exactly what they were discovering,” said Lt. poppas. “And I would move my pieces around to make sure I covered any areas that needed sweeping.”
The NYPD is the only law enforcement agency in the world with this technology, Fox News reported earlier this week.
The first version was presented in 2015 during the United Nations General Assembly and the Pope’s visit.
Since then, the NYPD has continued to update the system as it gathers new information.
“We’ve had time to upgrade our gear, refine it, and finish this version of it.”
Lt. Pappas said the NYPD has been using its time productively during the COVID lockdowns.
“During the pandemic when everyone was in lockdown, this was an opportunity to finally fine-tune and improve the technology,” Pappas said.
An NYPD K9 team on patrol is shown entering a New York City subway.
(Fox News)
“And we have used the lockdown to do just that.”
“I can honestly say that our team, the NYPD K9 program, has come out of the lockdown much stronger than when we started because we’ve had time to train.”
“We’ve had time to upgrade our gear, refine it, and finalize this version to launch.”
While the NYPD created TREDD, they demonstrated it for the Pentagon and shared the information with other partners — but no one else has TREDD dogs.
“It’s no use hoarding that when we’re all threatened like this. This isn’t just a threat to New York City,” said Lt. poppas.
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“Again, this is an example of how the NYPD goes out of its way to protect its citizens — and at the same time protect the citizens of the world by sharing information like this,” he said.
