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Accelerant Detection Canine "Billie" will retire after serving nearly eight-and-half years of dedicated service to the Office of the State Fire Marshal and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, says State Fire Marshal Brian S. Geraci.
"Billie and her handler, Senior Deputy Jeff Thomas are assigned to the Lower Eastern Regional Office and have lived, eaten, breathed, and worked together ever since", Geraci stated. "Billie's last investigations were an intentionally set car fire and a dwelling fire that was concluded to be arson, which led to an arrest. K-9 Billie also took part in many community outreach demos through the years".
The nearly 10-year-old black Labrador Retriever has worked over 400 fire scenes throughout Maryland, leading to many felony arrests. ATF canines use a food reward eating regimen that requires them to be hand fed each day, including weekends and holidays.
Billie's handler estimates that she conducted nearly 100,000 alerts during her almost decade-long career, getting rewarded by hand each time. Before her time working with fires, Billie was a part of the Puppy Behind Bars program.
Billie's handler will return to Virginia to begin a 6-week long training ADC program to meet his new partner.
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