NEW BERLIN – Part-time New Berlin Police Officer and K9 handler Tom Miller – joined by his partner Nitro – have been formally certified in state-required police dog drug and narcotic detection following a weeklong seminar held by the Southern Tier K9 Association in Endicott in mid-June.

The seminar consisted of training and testing in the fields of tracking, area searches, drug and narcotic detection, bomb and explosive detection, street patrol and obedience, said Miller, who was joined by fellow K9 handlers Bob Jones and Rick McKulskey of the New Berlin PD. Members of the Endicott, Lackawanna, New York City, Beacon, Albion, Scranton and Towonda police departments also participated.

Miller and McCulskey were also certified during the week of testing with Police Drug/Narcotic Dog 1 and 2, respectively, both national certifications. Police Drug/Narcotic Dog 2, added Miller, is the highest level of drug and narcotic detection.

The seminar included searches of land and property, including searches for buried or hidden drugs; the interior and exterior of vehicles; package searches and even searches of airplanes at the Tri-Counties Airport in Endicott.