FARGO, N.D. – Fargo Police canine, “Earl”, and his handler, Officer George Vinson, have been recognized by the United States Police Canine Association for the narcotics work they have conducted.
Earl and Officer Vinson are assigned to the patrol division. Many of their regular assignments include assisting the narcotics unit on search warrants or other police officers on traffic stops.
Earl recently was recognized with awards that include 16 medallions for narcotics two medallions for patrol and tracking.
Earl and Officer Vinson also received the USPCA Region 12 case of the quarter. On July 29, 2009, the postal inspector requested the canine team to sniff a suspicious package. When Officer Vinson arrived he observed the postal inspector had placed out four packages in a room to be sniffed. Earl was commanded to seek dope. After sniffing the second package Earl sat down, which is his final alert for a trained odor.
A search warrant was obtained and inside the package was three pounds of marijuana wrapped in plastic and covered in what appeared to be mustard. A controlled delivery of the package was set up and Earl arrived to do a sniff of the residence.
Inside the garage, Earl alerted Vinson to a black bag containing one half pound of methamphetamine, four pounds of marijuana, drug paraphernalia and $8,818 in cash. Another pound of marijuana was also found in a corner of the garage.
Earl also sniffed out seven pounds of marijuana in a car parked in the driveway. Ecstasy pills were also located in the vehicle
The Fargo Police Department has three canines which meet yearly certification standards set by the USPCA.
In 2008, the Fargo Police Canine Unit assisted in the recovery of:
191 pounds of marijuana, 52 grams of methamphetamine, 25 grams of cocaine, five grams of mushrooms, five doses of LSD, 12.5 grams of hash oil, $35,900 in cash seizures, $50,000 in property seizures and one hand gun.
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Source: Fargo Police Dept, KFGO News Center
