U.S. Customs K-9 Unit Visits
HHS Classes
It isn’t every day that a United States Customs and Border Protection K-9 unit visits Huntington High School. A pair of officers recently met in the auditorium with criminal justice and personal law students.
“With more than 60,000 employees, CBP is one of the world’s largest law enforcement organizations and is charged with keeping terrorists and their weapons out of the U.S. while facilitating lawful international travel and trade,” according to the agency’s website.
“The agency now falls under the umbrella of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security,” explained Huntington social studies teacher Erik Bruckbauer. Two officers stationed at JFK International Airport spent time with the high school students, explaining their role in maintaining the integrity of the nation’s boundaries and ports of entry.
“The CBP has attempted to develop seamless security procedures in the post 9-11 world while ensuring compliance with the nation’s immigration, health and international trade laws and regulations,” said Mr. Bruckbauer, whose criminal justice students found the visit entirely worthwhile.
“As the world’s first full-service border entity, CBP takes a comprehensive approach to border management and control, combining customs, immigration, border security, and agricultural protection into one coordinated and supportive activity,” according to the organization’s website.
Personal law students found plenty to interest it during the presentation. The kids said the experience was eye-opening and an exciting way to learn more about the people that work to keep our ports of entry safe,” business teacher Suzi Biagi said.
One of the highlights of the visit came when “Spike,” the K-9 unit’s specially trained Belgian Malinois dog engaged in a series of demonstrations for the teenagers. “The officers replicated a scenario that could have taken place while going through customs after an international flight,” Mr. Bruckbauer said. “Spike was able to detect ‘contraband’ that had been hidden on certain individuals.”
Officers Robinson and Lamonaca set aside time for a question and answer session with students interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement.
The CBP says that on any given day, it processes one million visitors to the U.S., screens more than 67,000 cargo containers, arrests more than 1,100 individuals and seizes control of almost six tons of illegal drugs.