TSA canine teams conduct real-life rollover rescue

On a bright, sunny morning in Atlanta, TSA canine teams from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) were on their way to conduct training with Federal Reserve and local law enforcement canine teams.

The joint training exercises are nothing new since the TSA Canine Training Center in Texas trains canines for the Federal Reserve and law enforcement as well as TSA.

While traveling north on I-75/85, the teams saw an overturned vehicle on the side of the road. The team in the lead vehicle feared the worst after realizing the driver was trapped inside.

Explosive Detection Canine Handler (EDCH) Michelle Draeger was driving the lead vehicle and immediately pulled over. Certified Training Instructor (CTI) Martin Ratkowski jumped out of the truck and ran to the overturned SUV. As he reached the SUV, Draeger and fellow TSA EDCHs Sabrina Sweet and Christopher Houk maneuvered their vehicles in such a way as to direct traffic away from the accident and protect everyone on the scene.

Sweet and her canine partner, Sport, were angled behind Draeger to protect the overturned SUV, while Houk and his partner, Romeo, angled behind Sweet and Sport, blocking the lane of traffic. For their part, Sport and Romeo stayed calm but vigilant in keeping with their training. Teamwork and situational awareness were on full display on a busy stretch of highway that morning.

Ratkowski, a former police officer, said his skills "just kicked in" to help pull the driver from the vehicle.

"The driver was pretty shaken," Ratkowski said. "I stayed with him, keeping him talking until emergency services arrived."

The Atlanta Fire Department arrived on the scene within 15 minutes and took control of the situation, providing medical assistance to the driver of the SUV.

"It's all in a day's work," Ratkowski said, as the TSA teams continued on their way to the joint training exercise.

While this was a single-car rollover accident without serious injuries, the rapid response by the ATL canine teams and trainer prevented additional damage, injuries and traffic delays.

The TSA ATL canine teams may have been a little late to the training exercise, but Draeger, Ratkowski, Sweet, Sport, Houk and Romeo were as professional as always, and the training session was a huge success.

By Michele Robbins, Strategic Communications & Public Affairs