Fresh from an intense 10-week training class, a new K9 team has joined Transit Police Services (TPS) to help keep travelers safe. Part of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, TPS patrols major transportation hubs, responds to incidents and performs searches. TPS works with OCTA to maintain a secure environment throughout the entire transit system.
At the Transportation Security Admiration’s (TSA) Explosive Detection Canine handler’s course in San Antonio, TX, Deputy Kyle Stedman and his partner, Archie, a Labrador mix, learned to identify a wide variety of dangerous materials while working as an effective unit. The two became a team after Archie’s caretaker for the past two years carefully matched him with Deputy Stedman based on the deputy’s personality, experience and knowledge of dogs.
Previously assigned to patrol operations in Lake Forest, Deputy Stedman transferred to OCTA in November and began a program to become familiar with OCTA and the mass transit system of Orange County. Archie is his first canine partner.
The new recruits join two other OCTA K9 teams -- Jack, a Labrador Retriever mix, and his partner Deputy Mike Wigginton, and Kori, a Hungarian Vizsla, and his partner Deputy Corey Mayer.
At least one OCTA K9 team is on duty almost every day. No two days are alike because their objectives and tasks change frequently.
Though Orange County transit is exceptionally safe, the dogs help thwart potential threats through their highly visible presence and their ability to sniff out potential danger.
Both OCTA and TPS encourage the public to aid law enforcement by being aware and reporting any suspicious behavior. Click here to learn about safety and security.
Another way people can help the K9 teams is by remembering that Archie, Jack and Kori are all working dogs. When you see them at Metrolink and bus stations, they’re on the job. If you’d like to interact with these K9 safety officers, please ask their partners first.
