Southern Tier Police Canine Association Inc.
21st Annual Advanced Handlers K-9 Seminar
June 2-6, 2014
Endicott, NY
This is a working Police Service Dog Team seminar
Training will consist of:
Problem Solving
Protection
Decoy Training
Tactical Deployments
Urban and Rural Tracking Environments
Explosive Detection
Narcotics Detection
K-9 Team Seminar Cost $325.00
New York State Testing/Certification Available
Eastern Police Canine Association Testing/Certification Available
(www.epcaonline.com)
(EPCA Membership of $25.00 required and Testing Fee of $25.00 per test required)
Overview of Training Curriculum
Tracking
Tracking Course Overview: To provide K-9 teams with training and practical experience
tracking, problem solving, in urban and rural environments, SAR, Human Remains and
Detection
Cliff Samson-Manitoba Fire Commissioners Office/Retired Winnipeg Police
Constable Tom Szczygiel Niagara Parks Police Canada
Explosives
Explosive Course Overview: To provide K-9 teams with training and practical experience with
“real world deployments”.
Training Will Be Conducted With the Endicott Police Bomb Squad

Duane Shaffer-TSA Department of Homeland Security/Retired Binghamton (NY) Police
 Cliff Samson-Manitoba Fire Commissioners Office/Retired Winnipeg Police
Narcotics
Narcotics Course Overview: To provide K-9 teams with training and practical experience
advanced hides scenarios and drive building.
 Dan Smith – Cheektowaga, (NY) Police (Retired)
 Mike Page-Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office
Problem Solving/Protection/Certification Training
Problem Solving/Protection: Solutions and behavioral corrects to common problems
experienced in bite, obedience issues for deployments. E.P.C.A. Certification Training:
Preparation training for testing with the Eastern Police Canine Association Inc for Street Ready
Police Dog, Police Dog 1, Police Dog 2, Tracking Dog Certifications.

Tony Patricola – TO/Newburgh (NY) Police (Retired)
Problem Solving/Protection/Decoy Training/Tactical
Problem Solving/Protection: Solutions and behavioral corrects to common problems
experienced in protection deployments.
Mike D’Abruzzo – Owner K9-1 Specialized Dog Training
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTORS
(Instructors May Be Added Or Changed)
Mike D'Abruzzo Is the owner and trainer of K9-1 Specialized Dog Training and is a graduate of Tom
Rose school of Dog Training, Global K9 trainer's course, has an associates degree in veterinary science,
is a veteran of OIF as an infantry medic. Mike and his head trainer, Nathaniel Bonilla who is also a Tom
Rose school graduate with 13 years full time experience training working dogs will provide varied
scenarios for the team, and will offer training and problem solving leash handling techniques to improve
control,airway protection,and using the leash for tactical non-verbal communication to the K9 All
aspects of modern low level e-collar work done in a way that won't cause negative side effects, improve
safety, and reliability in off-leash deployment bite work, encouraging and maintaining the deep hold on
the bite, "outing" the dog without side effects to the bite and without handler conflict, all aspects of
"proofing" K9s off of bite equipment, proper muzzle work, hidden sleeve use, etc, how to run defense of
handler drills, multiple target apprehensions, and other scenario based drills, any and all
troubleshooting, improving the working relationship between handler/k9, troubleshooting common
problems that arise from living with the working dog, a system to help troubleshoot almost any common
behavior problem or obedience issue
ROBERT “ROBBY” HERMANS KVD Wellen Master Robby has been a K9 officer with the
Belgian Army for over 30 years. For the past 10 years he has been head instructor of the Belgium Army
K9 Unit. This Unit consists of 450 officers and their respective dogs and handlers, mostly patrol-guard
military working dogs. Robby specializes in training patrol dogs and obedience for working dogs. Robby
has been an instructor for Road Overview Search Dogs, Explosive Detector Dogs, head instructor decoy,
specialization in reality and service decoy work, head instructor of several Police K9 academies, local
and federal Police K9 schools, Afghanistan International Military Police war K9 veteran, owner of his
own K9 club (www.k9workingmalinois.be) owner of Robbyfarm Kennel and breeder of Belgian Malinois,
specialist in problems, aggression behavior solving, board member of NVBK Belgium, head judge on
several NVBK dog games.
MIKE PAGE Mike Page is currently employed by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Bureau
of Narcotics Investigation and Drug Control. Mike was a K9 handler and trainer for the City of
Johnstown (PA) Police Department for 12 years handling two dual purpose dogs. Mike trained under
NAWPDA, West Virginia Canine College and EPCA receiving certifications in all. Mike is detection and
Patrol Trial Judge for EPCA and will work with you to enhance your K9’s scent detection skills
TONY PATRICOLA Tony is a retired Sergeant, K9 handler and Trainer with the Town of Newburgh
(NY) Police Department. Tony is “one of the few” that was able to achieve the highest level of
certification with EPCA in patrol and tracking. Tony is a Patrol and Narcotics Judge and Trainer for
EPCA.
CLIFF SAMSON Cliff currently works for the Manitoba Fire Commissioner Office and has over
twenty year’s experience as a canine handler, and held the position of supervisor and senior trainer for
the Winnipeg Police Service Canine Unit for over 10 years. He is past President of the Canadian Police
Canine Association, a certified Patrol Dog Judge (DPO-PSP), and holds a Master trainers certificate
through the Canine Law Enforcement Accreditation Registry and has completed training with the RCMP.
Cliff has participated in and been responsible for VIP Explosive Detector Dog sweeps for all visits of the
Prime Minister and Governer General to Winnipeg, along with the Queen of England, assist with
explosive sweeps for International dignitaries, coordinated K9 search teams and worked an explosive
detector dog during the 1999 Pan Am Games held in Winnipeg, and the G-8 Summit held in Kananaskis
Alberta in 2002. Cliff was a explosive dog handler at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Canada. Cliff has
been responsible for training HUSAR dogs for one of Canada’s five National teams. Purina 2001
Champion, has been asked to judge the annual CPCA trials 7 years in a row, selected for a committee to
set up a National Standard for Explosive Detector Dogs at all International Airports in Canada, and
asked to sit on a panel formed to develop a National HUSAR K-9 standard, Cliff will conducting training
in Tracking Problem Solving and Search and Rescue and will be available to assist with training
Explosive Detection Teams Cliff will be assisted by Constable Tom Szczygiel of the Niagara Parks Police
Canada who is handling his second K9.
DUANE SHAFFER Duane is a well-known trainer and has handled a K-9 as a patrol officer,
sergeant, lieutenant and captain, the unit’s supervisor with the Binghamton, NY Police Department
retiring as such. Duane is currently working for the Department of Homeland Security as a Field K9
Coordinator with TSA overseeing the training of TSA Explosive Detection K9. Duane is currently a
sworn officer with the New Berlin, NY Police Department. Duane is one of the founders, directors,
examiners and trainers for EPCA and STPCA. Duane will work with you on Explosive Detection. Duane
will be available to examine NYS BMP Certification for Narcotics, Explosives, Evidence Recovery,
Tracking and Patrol. Duane is also a Trainer and Judge in all Disciplines for EPCA
*NEW* Interoperability training will be conducted with the Endicott Police Bomb Squad to include
post blast scenarios and deployments including robot/technicians/K-9’s scenarios
DAN SMITH Dan retired from the Cheektowaga, NY Police Department as a K9 handler. Dan is one
of the founders and a director of the EPCA, and is currently the association’s secretary. Dan will
conduct an introduction, problem solving and practical exercises, drive development and enhancement of
detection. Dan is a certified Trial Judge and Trainer for EPCA.
ROBERT “ROBBY” HERMANS KVD Wellen Master Robby has been a K9 officer with the
Belgian Army for over 30 years. For the past 10 years he has been head instructor of the Belgium Army
K9 Unit. This Unit consists of 450 officers and their respective dogs and handlers, mostly patrol-guard
military working dogs. Robby specializes in training patrol dogs and obedience for working dogs. Robby
has been an instructor for Road Overview Search Dogs, Explosive Detector Dogs, head instructor decoy,
specialization in reality and service decoy work, head instructor of several Police K9 academies, local and
federal Police K9 schools, Afghanistan International Military Police war K9 veteran, owner of his own K9
club (www.k9workingmalinois.be) owner of Robbyfarm Kennel and breeder of Belgian Malinois,
specialist in problems, aggression behavior solving, board member of NVBK Belgium, head judge on
several NVBK dog games.
Pleas Make Your Own Hotel Reservations
Recommended Lodging: Special Rate of $85.00 per night.
La Quinta Inn - Johnson City, 581 Harry L. Drive, Johnson City, NY 13790-1470, US
Phone: (607) 770-9333 Call this direct line and mention K9 Seminar.
Complimentary Breakfast at La Quinta Inn, admission to local health club with room.
Daily Lunch Provided by Southern Tier Police K-9
Hospitality Night provided no additional charge
Seminar T-Shirt provided no additional charge
Questions or concerns contact:
Larry Vanek:
Home: (607) 785-2481
Cell:
(607) 343-1487
Email: jvanek@stny.rr.com
Duane Shaffer:
Cell: (607) 343-4602
Email: kaladar1@aol.com
REGISTRATION 0800 HOURS MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014 AT:
300 LINCOLN AVENUE, ENDICOTT, NY 13760
2014 K-9 SEMINAR REGISTRATION FORM
June 2nd-6th, 2014
(ONE PER FORM)
HANDLER’S NAME: ___________________________________________
ADDRESS: ____________________________________________________
TELEPHONE NUMBER: _________________________________________
DEPARTMENT NAME: __________________________________________
DEPARTMENT ADDRESS: ______________________________________
DEPARTMENT TELEPHONE NUMBER: ___________________________
T-SHIRT SIZE: (ONE PER ATTENDEE/CIRCLE SIZE REQUESTED)
XXL
S
M
L XL
AREA OF INTEREST:
NARCOTICS
HUMAN REMAINS
TRACKING
EXPLOSIVES
PATROL/TACTICAL
SEARCH & RESCUE
AMOUNT ENCLOSED:
.
($325.00 per K9 Team payable to Southern Tier Police Canine Assoc. Inc.)
MAIL THIS REGISTRATION FORM AND PAYMENT DUE BY May 30th, 2014
(Unless pre arrangements are made with Duane Shaffer nonrefundable after May 30, 2014
Mail to: Southern Tier Police Canine Association, Inc.
4125 St. Clair Road, Binghamton, New York 13903
Fax: (607) 723-1003 Business Office: (607) 723-1878