Officer William Burkett and “Bea”

UNLV Police Services is called on by our community to provide a safe environment for patrons who attend over 200 special events each year. These events, which include Presidential visits, the National Finals Rodeo, and NBA Basketball, oftentimes require the services of an Explosive Detection Canine to ensure the safety and security of everyone involved. For several years, Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) Agent Lauren Townsend and her chocolate Labrador retriever “Joe” have helped to protect the people who call UNLV home as well as its visitors until UNLV Police Services could create their own canine program.

Explosive Detection Canines “Bea” and “Joe” take a break between
searches at the Sam Boyd Stadium before a UNLV Football Game

In 2007, UNLV Police Services decided to establish its own canine program to satisfy the need for an Explosive Detection Canine. Officer William Burkett was selected to travel to Front Royal, Virginia where he met and trained for 400 hours over 10 weeks with “Bea”, a golden Labrador retriever, at the ATF Canine Training Center. “Bea”, who was born on January 9, 2006, can detect over 19,000 different types of explosives. Officer Burkett and “Bea” returned home to UNLV from their training on September 19, 2007, where “Bea” received a hero’s welcome from the wonderful students of the Paradise elementary school.

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