K-9's work overtime during TSA malfunction at Sky Harbor

PHOENIX (KSAZ) - Csoki (cho-key), a German Shepard mix, was back at work early this morning after a hard day on the job Thursday.

"They worked their tails off last night, no pun intended," said Officer Bob Rice of Phoenix police. "We did it 8 a.m. until 6 p.m."

Csoki's handler Officer Rice says he received a call shortly after the baggage screening system at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport malfunctioned at 6:45 a.m.

Their usual patrol of the terminals would challenged their training more than usual.

"I think we had eight K-9 teams out here," one officer said. "We were all set up between this area, right here."

"So why bring the dogs?" Officer Rice asked. "They can clear the bags, just like the machine. These are explosives dogs. They can clear bags, so we can screen them just as well as machines can."

Bomb-sniffing dogs, like Buck, worked for about 20 minutes at a time, according to their handlers. Checking and sniffing every piece of luggage left behind, while taking short breaks in between.

"I think we searched about 7,000 bags, I'm thinking," one officer said.

Additional K-9 units were on-hand throughout the day, in case the system were to malfunction again.

"I believe they got the system up and running, now we will just be available for anything left unattended, that kind of stuff,"Office Rice said.