Template revised January 10, 2019.
COMMISSION
AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Item No. 8j
ACTION ITEM Date of Meeting February 11, 2025
DATE: January 20, 2025
TO: Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director
FROM: Tygh Hollinger, Homeland Security Division (HSD) Sergeant
SUBJECT: Authorization for Conveyance of Retired Port-Owned K9 Copper to Handler
Amount of this request: $0.00
Total estimated project cost:
$0.00
ACTION REQUESTED
Request Commission authorization for the Executive Director to convey Port-owned K9 Copper
to his handler, Officer Eric DeVries.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Port Policy AC-13 restricts Port-owned property from being conveyed to Port employees unless
approved by the Commission. AC-13 paragraph .05 specifically states that: “Port property must
NOT be sold/transferred to any Port Commissioner or Port employee or to members of their
immediate families, unless specific approval of the Port Commission is obtained.” On November
21, 2023, the Port of Seattle Commission adopted Resolution No. 3816 which authorized the
Executive Director to sell and convey port personal property in 2024 in accordance with RCW
53.08.090 with a value not greater than $22,000.
We are seeking authorization for Officer DeVries’ K9, Copper, to be retired from active duty as
an explosive detection canine. We are asking that K9 Copper be conveyed to Officer DeVries.
When a canine is being retired, organizations, including the TSA, offer the first right of refusal to
the current handler. If that handler declines, the K9 is offered to the previous handler. K9 Copper
did not have a previous handler. Officer DeVries was his one and only handler. Typically, if the
handler does not want to adopt the K9 it is returned to the vendor or adopted to friends or co-
workers. This is an established process with the Port and the Commission has authorized this
three times before.
Retirement eligibility of a K9 is determined by several factors which can include but is not limited
to age, health, medical cost, ability to achieve or maintain certification, and/or behavior.
Supporting documentation may include a letter from a veterinarian, official department request,
handler and/or trainer memos, and/or a hold-harmless agreement.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8j Page 2 of 4
Meeting Date: February 11, 2025
JUSTIFICATION
K9 Copper was purchased by the Port in March 2024. Officer DeVries’ previous K9, Ticket, was
unexpectedly lost to cancer the previous year. Copper was purchased for $3,500.00. Copper did
not have any explosive detection training, but did have some obedience and hunting training.
K9 Copper’s explosive detection training started following a brief acclimation period. His training
comprised of explosive odor imprinting, search patterning, and obedience. All training was
conducted with the ultimate goal of meeting the Washington State Explosive Detection Canine
certification.
Unfortunately, early in K9 Copper’s training there were observed deficiencies. His performance
declined in new settings or in settings he hadn’t been in for a while. His motivation to search for
explosives also declined in these settings, as his hunting drive seemed to take over. He displayed
inconsistencies in daily training. K9 Copper was more motivated to hunt than sniff for explosive
odor.
This behavior was not only observed by Officer DeVries, but the department’s two K9 trainers
who provide training to the K9 team. Different training techniques and motivational tools were
tried but were unsuccessful. K9 Copper’s training continued until September when Officer
DeVries sought the help of an outside K9 evaluator. The outside evaluator was a State certified
evaluator and trainer with the Washington State Police Canine Association. K9 Copper failed the
evaluation on the first day. However, the evaluator allowed Officer DeVries and K9 Copper to
continue through the evaluation in the hope of gaining valuable training and to further evaluate
K9 Copper’s deficiencies. The evaluator’s opinion was that K9 Copper was not suited to be an
explosive detection K9 and that no amount of additional training would get K9 Copper to a level
that Officer DeVries or the other trainers would be confident in his abilities.
K9 Copper’s training took place from March to October of 2024. State certification requires 200
hours of training before they can be eligible to certify. Officer DeVries and K9 Copper had
significantly more training hours than the required amount. Following the September
certification attempt, Officer DeVries and the department trainers approached the K9 team’s
supervisors with their concerns. It was decided to forward those concerns to HSD leadership
with a recommendation that K9 Copper be retired due to him being unsuited for explosive
detection. A handler must have full confidence in their K9’s ability to detect explosive odor in
any setting. K9 Copper’s inconsistencies in new settings means he could not be relied upon when
responding as a regional asset or in unfamiliar areas of the Port.
Officer DeVries, the K9 trainers, and the outside evaluator lack the confidence needed to rely on
K9 Copper. He has failed to meet the stringent requirements of an explosive detection K9 and
has demonstrated he is not able to progress. Sadly, K9 Copper is unfit to continue in the role of
explosive detection K9. Assigning Copper to another handler does not change his ability to detect
explosive odor. Assigning him to another handler would only delay that handler from becoming
certified and operational. Additional training from the trainers will not change K9 Copper’s
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8j Page 3 of 4
Meeting Date: February 11, 2025
disposition for detecting explosive odor. It would only mean valuable training time and resources
were prevented from serving the other certified K9 teams. Not retiring Copper also means the
department will be responsible for any associated costs of care, such as food, veterinary services,
and insurance.
Officer DeVries has built a relationship with K9 Copper. K9 Copper has known Officer DeVries
and his family for almost a year now and recognizes Officer DeVries’ residence as his home.
Officer DeVries has agreed to adopt K9 Copper and has completed the Retired Service Animal
Hold-Harmless Agreement.
Schedule
Upon approval of authorization by the Commission, the retirement of K9 Copper will be effective
February 11, 2025.
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED
Alternative 1 – Reassignment of K9 Copper to another handler.
Cost Implications: Unknown total cost associated with care and training time.
Pros: Reassignment of K9 Copper means there is a chance his disposition for explosive detection
could change, and he could become certified.
Cons: The likelihood of K9 Copper’s disposition changing and obtaining certification is extremely
unlikely. A considerable amount of training time and resources would have to be diverted from
the other K9 teams to focus on K9 Copper. The trainer’s time is valuable and available resources
are limited. This could result in other K9 teams not getting their required training and losing their
certification. The department would incur the associated costs of keeping K9 Copper in training
which is still highly unlikely to result in his certification.
This is not the recommended alternative.
Alternative 2 – Retire and release all interest in K9 Copper and allow for Officer DeVries to adopt
him.
Cost Implications: $0
Pros: The Port will not be liable for any cost associated with K9 Copper. K9 Copper will be
adopted by Officer DeVries who would assume all costs associated with his care and provide
a healthy, safe home for him.
Cons: None
This is the recommended alternative.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8j Page 4 of 4
Meeting Date: February 11, 2025
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
The department is not requesting any funds for this authorization.
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST
None
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS
October 8, 2024 – The Commission authorized retirement and conveyance of Port-owned K9
Rocky to the handler.
July 26, 2022 – The Commission authorized retirement and conveyance of Port-owned K9
Merlin to the handler.
January 4, 2022 – The Commission authorized retirement and conveyance of Port-owned K9
Ty to the handler.
