Bomb-detection dog added to Minnesota Capitol security team

Published 1:20 pm Saturday, October 31, 2015

ST. PAUL — Minnesota’s Capitol security team is getting a new four-legged member named Matka. 

State Patrol Capt. Eric Roeske said the bomb-detection dog will be added to the complex security detail starting in January. He informed members of a Capitol security task force of the addition on Friday.

Roeske said the Hungarian vizsla will have a state trooper as a handler.

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The Capitol and surrounding buildings are watched over by a mix of security officers and State Patrol members.

The task force also heard about plans to implement a smartphone-enabled notification system that would automatically alert people to emergencies on the Capitol grounds. A vendor has yet to be hired for that.