Mitchell International Airport acquires 3 explosive detection canines

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee recently acquired three explosive detection canines and handlers.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) trains and deploys canine teams to detect explosives and provide a visible deterrent to terrorism. 

"When we get to the airport every day, she's a different level of excited," Explosive Detection Canine Handler Christian Yamat said.

Yamat is Bimba's handler. The German Shorthaired Pointer is currently the only female canine working at the Milwaukee airport.

"She knows when we get to the checkpoint, it's time to work," Yamat said. 

As passengers walk through the queue, Bimba and the other canines are sniffing for explosives. She's trained to find a variety of explosives based on intelligence data and emerging threats.

"We go through, back and forth on the checkpoint, screening passengers," Yamat said.

Bimba and the other canines will give specific responses to their handlers, letting them know if a passenger is okay or has something they're not supposed to.

"It's been such an effective layer of security. From an efficiency standpoint, we're much faster, but it's also one of our best layers of security that we have in the system," Assistant Federal Security Director Tim Goodman said.

With the canine screening, passengers can pass through the TSA checkpoint as if they have pre-check status, meaning they don't have to take off their shoes or remove electronics from their bags. 

"It's quite a bit easier," Goodman said.

Goodman told CBS 58 the dogs help the line move about 50% faster than typical screenings.

"In the early morning, when we're seeing 3,000 passengers or so come through the Milwaukee airport before 6 a.m., we can process them at twice the speed or close to twice the speed that we would before," Goodman said.

People traveling through Milwaukee should be prepared to see the dogs but know they won't come in direct contact with you, and you should treat them the same.

"I know she's very cute and a lot of people like to approach her, but we are at work, Yamat said. "Don't touch her while we're working."

The canines are also deployed to other transportation facilities around Southeastern Wisconsin like the ferries and trains. 

They'll also work at crowded events, including the Republic National Convention in 2024.