Students at Silas Wood Sixth Grade Center recently had a special visit from NYPD Police Officer Nader and his K9 sidekick Robbie. Police dogs are trained for a number of reasons such as search and rescue, drug and explosive detection, scent tracking, protecting officers, and attacking suspects who try to get away. Robbie’s training is very special and unique, only one in five police dogs in New York State can do what he does. Robbie is trained to sniff out a specific chemical called Triphenylphosphine Oxide (TPPO), which is a chemical commonly found inside electronic devices. 

Police Officer Nader showed students how Robbie can sniff out these electronics. He is trained to connect the smell of TPPO with food, so when he smells that chemical, he knows to sit down next to the suspect device and wait for his reward, food. His ability allows him to find electronic devices that store information that would be helpful in solving cases. Students were fascinated as K9 Robbie showed his keen sense of smell by finding a cell phone that was hidden under a traffic cone. He also found memory sticks that were hidden in everyday objects such as a water bottle, soda can, and even a hairbrush. 

This visit helped take a current learning unit about how animals and people interact with each other out of the classroom and into a real-world context.  “Outside the classroom” learning usually amps up student engagement and gives them a better understanding of what they’re studying.  Students saw first-hand how Police Officer Nader and Robbie communicate with each other on the job. Their partnership is so successful because of the strong relationship they have built with each other. 

Our thanks to Police Officer Nader and K9 Robbie for visiting Silas Wood to show our students how they work together to help keep us safe! 

Silas Wood students were engaged as Police Officer Nader and K9 partner Robbie showed off their communication skills.

Robbie is equipped with his own NYPD badge. He is one of five police dogs in New York State who is trained to sniff out the specific chemical called Triphenylphosphine Oxide.

Students held examples of seemingly ordinary objects that could be used for hiding electronics and other devices that store memory.

Officer Nader held up a hair brush to show students an example of an ordinary object that could hide small USB drives or memory cards.

Robbie is very food motivated! Everytime he finds the electronic device in search, he sits at its location and is hand-fed his reward. Robbie does not eat out of an ordinary dog bowl.