Episode #24 Bellator K9 Billy Sawyer and Brian Hempelmann "Recalls, tactics, shootings, and lessons learned"

Say Less - Train your dog to be calm and stable. This allows your dog to think through what you’re asking him to do. Being frantic leads to bad decision making and instability.

Brian Hempelmann
Brian Hempelmann became a police officer in 1994 with the Westminster Police Department in Colorado. He then became a K9 handler in 1997. Brian has since worked 5 dual purpose K9’s. 4 were dual purpose narcotics dogs and his current is a dual purpose explosive dog. Brian is also assigned to the SWAT team where he assists in perimeters and entry during various high risk operations. Brian is currently the Supervisor and Trainer for his department.

From 2009-2010, Brian worked with government research and development of K9 applications where he created and maintained programs of instruction for K9 applications. He trained K9’s in control, human scent discrimination tracking, searches, and narcotic and explosive odor training and implementation.

Brian was a part of the Technical Support Working Group (TSWG) and considered a subject matter expert. Brian evaluates and documents K9 related DOD projects for specified end users. He evaluates explosive programs related to the dogs ability to generalize odors. He also created an HME program for military and law enforcement. Brian has trained numerous K9’s and certified them through CPCA and NPCA.

Billy Sawyer
Billy has 15 years of Law Enforcement experience that started with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office in Jacksonville Florida. Billy was assigned to a Tactical Narcotics Unit that focused on undercover operations along with service of Search Warrants, Arrest Warrants, and Vehicle Assaults. He was also a firearms instructor for the department.

In 2013, Billy became an officer with the Longmont Police Department and joined the SWAT team in 2014. He deploys with and is attached to the SWAT team as the p rimary K9 handler. He has deployed on countless missions with the team. Billy was a Taser and Firearms Instructor. Billy promoted to the rank of Sergeant and currently leads a patrol shift. He is also the K9 Unit trainer and previously attended Police K9 Trainer School at Tarheel Canine. Billy has tested 100’s of police dogs. He is currently a judge for the Colorado Police Canine Association (CPCA).

Billy believes in continuing education and he has attended the HITS Conference (5 times times), the Hold the Line K9 Conference (2 times, the Iron Dog K9 Seminar (2 times), Franco Angelini’s Bite Dr Decoy School (5 times), a SWAT/K9 Integration with Cameron Ford, a graduate of the NePoPo silver program, among others.

Billy is passionate about the integration of police canines with SWAT. There seems to be a disconnect between SWAT teams and K9 handlers along with their roles as they work together.

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If you want Rich and Howard to come to your location we can make it happen. They have come together to provide workshops on any K9 related topic you like. Open to law enforcement and civilian attendees. Contact Howard at hjyk91@gmail.com or 704-473-9885.