CTA Tattler

Problem is, securitas practically hires anybody with a pulse.

I always feel sorry for those dogs when I see them. They always look sad and I never see the handlers showing them any sort of affection, but maybe they're not supposed to do that on the job. I wonder what their home life is like? Do they live with their handlers like K-9 officers do? Or are they kept kennels or something?

If it's CTA-related, you can be absolutely assured that whatever the task is, they're doing it the wrong way. And no one will hold them accountable.

Yes, mike, the CTA is to blame for how an independent company handles its dogs.

I agree that Securitas doesn't seem to put much effort into pairing dogs with employees who have any skills working with dogs. I've seen them get tugged around and yelled at enough to know that either a) both parties are terribly overworked or b) the dog handlers don't particularly care for their animals.
Having seeing actual K9 police officers interact with and talk about their animals I know that the relationship should involve a great deal of respect and tolerance for the animal, which is not something I see much with the Securitas guys. (That said, I've also seen some Securitas handlers be very good to their animals. My guess is that they took the job because they wanted to, not because they needed to.)

I know one of the guys who has a bomb dog for Securitas. The dog lives with him full time and they're pretty much never apart. Most the dogs aren't bomb dogs; I'm not sure what they do, where they go at night, or if they're assigned to one person like my friend and his dog.

As far as the dogs being overworked, that isn't the fault of the individual handlers. In the case of my friend, when his dog is being over worked, it also means that he's being overworked. Fatigue is a problem and it comes from management. Handlers responding to that by mistreating the dogs, super uncool.

After the CBS story a while back, the dogs of my friend and his partner were retested to prove they know their shit. The bomb dogs aren't always sniffing for bombs; they only do it when they're told to. I would assume is true of the other dogs, whatever it is they're doing.

iPod handler lady? Not cool. I suppose it's possible that she and the dog were on break, but it sure does look bad. I know that my friend was on Metra detail and kind of had his hands tied. He had to work with the Metra cops. When they didn't do anything, he couldn't do anything, and he was the one that the public noticed because he had a dog. When that CBS story ran the public turned on him and his dog. People were actually spitting on them.

I've seen a Securitas employee kick his dog. I reported this in writing to both Securitas and the Anti-Cruelty Society, and neither bothered to respond.

Has anyone else ever been at a stop when the dogs were picked up outside?

I saw a battered pickup truck outside the Wilson RedLine stop once. It had what honestly looked like chicken coops built into a wooden structure in the back of this truck. The cages were tiny and filthy and unhappy dogs were barking loudly out of most of them. There must've been a dozen dogs crammed into this structure.

These dogs are supposed to be working to keep us safe and the CTA, along with Securitas, hires out the handling of them to these cut-rate companies who obviously don't prioritize the welfare and/or health of these dogs.

If you have seen these seedy trucks before, you know what I mean.

Sad.

I hate that those dogs are forced to sniff the trains. Granted, I don't know what their entire days are like, but it saddens me to see them and to not be sure that they are being handled properly. And, Jerry, as an active volunteer at the Anti-Cruelty Society, I am truly surprised that there was no response from anyone. There is (or was about three weeks ago) an article up in the volunteer office about this very situation. I'm sure it had to be an oversight that no one responded to you.

I also have seen what a broken, suffering, mistreated dog looks like (my family rescued one years ago) and I do think that some of these dogs do fit the description. It really is a shame to see such amazing breeds looking so despondent and sad.

I see the dogs almost daily at the thorndale station, they are there for the senn dismissal to sniff for drugs (usually 2 or 3 dogs with overly chatty and inattentive handlers)

after writing today- on my way home i saw a handler that was actually paying attention to his dog (who was sitting and looking very happy)

so let's keep in mind that it's not EVERY handler, just like it's not every OWNER who is to blame when it comes to animals (or plants, or kids, or whatever!) ;)

okay, now i feel guilty. because you're absolutely right, dan. i've VERY rarely seen a dog that looks like it's happy. they DO look tired and sort of shitty. and the workers DEFINITELY don't look like they're attentive at all.

i've chalked up the bad feeling in my gut to 'well, i don't like to see dogs in muzzles and i know they have to be muzzled cause they're work dogs and they're around a ton of people and all of that.' but, in my gut i know it's more than that, and i just shove it away.

not.fucking.cool. especially with more of you speaking up right now. what are we going to do about this? it's sad that i'll deal with a lot more crap on the CTA for myself, but i will not let this go. the fact of the matter is, i can speak for myself; the dogs can't.

seriously. what has to be done?

Keep in mind, this isn't necessarily the CTA's fault, they just contract out to the best connected bidder.

Of course it's the CTA's fault. They could make their contractor make sure the dogs (and the handlers) were well trained and taken care of. They just don't care about that anymore than they care about the riders.

To those who say that this problem is not the responsibility of the CTA is akin to saying that Nike isnt responsible for the working conditions and child labor abroad, that makes its products.

The courts are not in agreement with you on that.

Nike has been able to affect positive change for those that work for the producers of thier products, so why cant the CTA also be the vehicle for change?

Are some of the dogs mangy looking? Sure. Are the security guards surly? Absolutely.

Does this whole complaint have to with an overly sensitive North-Side yuppie who sees the Securitas dogs as more as pets than working animals? Probably.

Jeez, can't we get back to meaningful complaints about self-centered 20 something Trixies who complaint about the fact that the CTA doesn't treating them like the princesses they are?

Jeez, Jack, maybe we should be concerned if they're ill-treated even if it's only because they're supposed to be working to protect us.

These aren't pets. They're another part of the whole CTA that's broken.

Maybe I am mistaken and the folks at CTA tattler know better, but there is no way Securitas dogs are bomb-sniffing dogs. First of all it is very expensive to train dogs to sniff for bombs, and even then they can only be trained to sniff for certain kinds of scents -- there is no one dog who can simply sniff around for "bomb" material. Secondly, the staff would also have to be trained to lead the dogs in a search -- and usually it is the dog-trainers themselves who actually handle bomb-sniffing dogs during a search. Bomb-sniffing dogs just don't walk around sniffing for bombs - they act on command. There is no way the Securitas staff is trained, or has the legal authority to do this. And finally, bomb or drug sniffing dogs do not bark when they find what they are looking for -- they are trained to sit down in front of where the scent is the strongest. So no dog is gonna start barking at you if you have some weed in your backpack on the train.
Bottom line is that these dogs are neither bomb/drug sniffing dogs nor are they attack dogs -- the latter would pose a huge liability issue for the CTA which is why the dogs are muzzled for precaution. The dogs are simply there for deterence. And if I can recall correctly, the dogs, along with the Secutitas staff, started appearing on CTA trains and platforms after a massive crime wave hit the CTA in the early 90's.
I understand the real point of the post is the poor shape these dogs appear to be in. But can the CTA Tattler please stop perpetuating this myth that they are bomb or drug sniffing dogs? That is ridiculous.

I know a couple of the k9 workers everybody keeps bashing them about the way the dogs look
If you guys are so worried why don't you find out were there facility is and take alook for yourself. these dogs aren't bomb dogs there on the train to deterr criminal activity. Most of the people who are making these comments only see one side of the story.Come to the south side were people appreciate the k9 unit once you see what goes on and you see that the k9 unit in action you will have a diffrent perspective on that unit and their dogs.I used to bash them all the time until I saw them 69th getting rid of all the solicitors and drug dealers in that station.

Come on everybody knows that Securitas & their "security dog handlers" are a ANOTHER worthless scam that CTA uses to PRETEND that they have real security. I work in the Citicorp building and they used Securitas until a huge scandal broke in the papers about how NONE of Securitas dog/handler teams could pass even the most basic qualifying test for performing security duties. Now we just have the CPD dogs in here. The problems with Securitas are old, old news.

I'll never forget the time I saw the handler and the dog knocked out sleep on the train.... they both were snoring and the dog had made a comfortable bed and looked pissed when it was time to get off.

The bomb-sniffing dog was on the METRA not the CTA. Here in the greater Chicagoland area, we have several train systems. CTA, METRA, two different things. Neither one is Amtrak, by the way. The Securitas guys I've seen on the CTA look like they are experts at finding drugs and weapons. I don't think they need the dogs to help.

Seriously, though, I asked one of the Securitas guys about the dogs. I told him I train dogs and they didn't seem to be trained to do much more than sit. He said that they are former pets with behavior problems that make them unadoptable. That's why they keep the muzzles on them, and no, they aren't trained to do anything other than sit. They just exploit the idea some people have of dogs being weapons.

http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/local_story_058105659.html

This morning a CPD K9 officer was patrolling on the Lake station platform. The difference in bearing of the K9 dog compared to the average Securitas dog was striking.

The K9 dog was sitting, unmuzzled, looking very alert, eyes bright. S/he seemed like a finely cared for animal. Most dogs, like german shepards, love to work so the demeanor of the Securitas dogs which seems to vary from disinterested to somewhat agitated goes a long way towards pointing out that they are not well trained and cared for.

Hey "Neal" you can go pick up you check from CTA for being one of their stooges now!

I know you guys have an unhealthy aversion to everything CTA (and CTA-related), but you're stretching it a little far. "That German Shepherd was giving me puppy dog eyes! He's sad!" Come on now..

UR ALL FULL OF CRAP KNOW WHAT UR TALKING ABOUT BEFORE U SAY ANYTHING!!!!!!!!!

I overheard a conversation between a securitas guard and a passerby at Thorndale. The securitas guard said the dog job was great and you got paid an additional 50 cents an hour if you supply your own dog. Based on that, I think the dogs are just pets wearing cage muzzles, and they do nothing but erode the CTAs budget.

I've known a former member of the Securitas K-9 unit and can add the following.

The dogs used on the CTA are "patrol" dogs. I put patrol in quotes because the training you would expect from a police patrol dog far exceeds what the Securitas dogs go through. Securitas handlers are taught 7 basic commands, though in reality only 5 are ever used, because that is all that 99% of the dogs know. They are: sit, stay, heal, down, come, the command for attack, and the command for release. Which two commands don't most of the 'patrol' dogs know? Attack and release.

The reason for this is simple. First, Kenny Reese (former branch manager of the K-9 division) and Dave Reese (current branch manager) don't care that much about the quality of the "patrol" dogs' training. Second, they don't hire individuals of high enough quality to competently handle the dogs even with just the 5 basic commands. The starting pay of a k-9 handler is $9.50 an hour, before union dues and taxes, not many will work for that. Many of the handlers are former or current gang bangers (one incident involves a gangbanger employee who returned to the kennel and held the branch manager and trainer hostage with a 9mm when he was told he was being terminated. Quality individuals!) Third, training costs money, and with the low retention of the K-9 division and the low quality of the handlers, why spend money on proper training for either handler or dog? Most of the handlers who take their jobs seriously have to spend money out of pocket for training, equipment, grooming supplies, and safety equipment for their dogs.

The dogs are frequently overworked because they are constantly getting sick. They have kennel sores; chapped, cracked and bleeding pads, urinary tract infections, and suffer wounds from fighting with the other dogs. Their muzzles are often rubbed raw from wearing the metal muzzles, which are often in poor repair due to improper upkeep. As one dog gets taken off the line because of illness or injury, another dog will be forced to work a double shift, 16 hours or more.

Securitas has no narcotics dogs, so any time that an officer says that a dog is barking at drugs, they are lying. Any real officer knows that most detection K-9s are trained to indicate a passive response to the presence of contraband.

Securitas at one point had many bomb dog handlers, and bomb dogs, whose training was actually at the industry standard. However those handlers faced long hours, unpaid overtime, unpaid training, and out of pocket expenses for equipment for even such basic items as body armor, batons, or holsters.

There is a reason why Securitas has lost or are in the process of losing the many accounts that they have had for both their patrol and explosives division. Lack of training, poor wages, and inexperienced individuals just to start the list.

Furthermore, when they have had the opportunity to have real handlers work with them, they cannot retain them even with the large sums of money they often throw at them. Securitas has had former military K-9 handlers from all branches of service with literally decades of experience quit rather than stay and deal with the drama, low wages, and poor morality of the company. Securitas has also had former Sheriff's Police K-9 Handlers quit the company for the same reason, and in at least one incidence a K-9 trainer with a professionally renowned training company also quit the company and volunteer for an overseas job even though he was making six figures with Securitas. Many of the former employees are now decorated veterans in the armed services, police officers, or professional trainers for other companies or departments.

Their current trainer taught passive dogs to attack handlers through his lack of qualification for his position, left live explosives on delivery trucks as 'training' only to have the trucks drive away into the city on several occasions, and threw away the explosive Composition B, substituting plaster chips to make weight when the BATFE inspects the explosives. According to the former employee, the explosives are frequently transported to training sites in vehicles not marked with explosives placards or equipped with the mandatory magazines to transport explosives safely.

All this coupled with the unofficial policy of letting new employees "open book" their basic K-9 handler test, and retake psychological profile exams in case of a failure has led to a K-9 division that is far inferior to anything that could be provided by the Chicago Police or TSA (who provides the explosives detection dogs for Metra and O'Hare).

The next time you see a dog being kicked or beaten, or obviously injured - or a handler being lazy or rude to a customer, I'd recommend that you contact the Anti-Cruelty Society at (312)644-9615, Securitas main office at (773) 594-6150, or Securitas Kennel at 888) 290-8225, or better, all three.