TheNational Explosives Detection Canine Team Program (NEDCTP)[1][2][3] is a program administered by theUnited StatesTransportation Security Administration (TSA) which uses law enforcement and TSA-run explosivesdetection dog teams to detect explosives in transportation environments.[4][1]
The program was originally started in 1972 by the TSA's predecessor, theFederal Aviation Administration,[1][4][2][3] who at the time, was responsible foraviation security in the United States. The program paired airport-based law enforcement officers with conventional explosive detection canines to detect explosives in objects such as vehicles and baggage.[1][4]
Following theSeptember 11th attacks, which resulted in the creation of the TSA, the NEDCTP was transferred from the FAA to the TSA and was completed by March 2003. In the following years, the TSA expanded the LEO teams to other modes of transportation, such as mass transit. In January 2008, the TSA began deploying their own unarmed teams where regulatory transportation security inspectors (TSI's) were paired with a canine to screenair cargo. In 2011, the TSA furthered the program by launching passenger screening canine (PSC) teams, which are explosive detection canines who besides detecting explosives in objects, can also detect explosives hidden on a person.[1][4]
The TSA sources their canines from theDepartment of Defense Military Working Dog program. The canines are trained at TSA's Canine Training Center, located atLackland Air Force Base inSan Antonio,Texas, also home to the Defense Department's Military Working Dog program.[2][3][5]
The TSA uses the following breeds of canine for explosive detection work:
There are two types of explosive detection canines trained by the TSA:
the TSA operates 372 canine teams[3] consisting of a Transportation Security Specialist - Explosive Detection Canine Handler (TSS-EDCH) and a canine. Prior to 2017, the handler was classified as a Transportation Security Inspector - EDCH. The remaining 675 NEDCTP teams are made up of state and local law enforcement handlers.
