OSUPD K9 Training

An Ohio State University Police Division K9 Officer is busy training the newest member of the team. Officer Chuck Gierach and newly acquired K9 Phenix are training at Ohio Stadium. Phenix, a 2-year-old Belgian Malinois, is the newest K9 to a team of four. He’s a bomb-detection dog and will be used for sweeps of special events. 

“We’re looking for compounds and odors that could be used in explosives,” Officer Gierach said. “That way, it keeps the dogs trained to recognize that type of threat for any type of large gathering on campus.”

Officer Gierach and Phenix train every week and sweep Ohio Stadium before every home football game. Phenix has been with the team for 2-months and has worked the last two home games. 

“He likes it,” Officer Gierach said. “The crowd doesn’t bother him. He likes the atmosphere and works really well around all of the people.”

Officer Gierach has been with the division for 17-years.

OSUPD’s K9 maintenance training began in 2002. Several other law enforcement agencies take part in the exercises every year. The teams are also responsible for sweeping other athletic venues on campus.