K-9 security team joins staff at Confluence

WENATCHEE — A security dog will be patrolling the halls of Central Washington Hospital, part of an expansion of the security team for Confluence Health. Atlas, a three-year-old German Shepherd, and his handler Justin Bennett will be on the hospital campus and at Confluence Health’s Mares building on Chelan Avenue in Wenatchee. 

“The addition to the security team is one of two dogs planned, with the second dog and handler arriving later in the year,” said a Confluence Health press release.  

“While trained for a wide range of situations, the dogs’ primary roles will be to deter violent behavior by assisting their human counterparts in their rounds in the various facilities,” said John Urdahl, Confluence Health security and emergency preparedness director.  

Donations from the Confluence Health Foundation helped pay for the dogs, their training and the necessary vehicles, the press release said. Confluence Health is hiring the handlers. 

“Because of its important focus on staff and patient safety, we knew this was an important program to be a part of, and it had enthusiastic support from our board,” said Suzanne Carte-Cocroft, Confluence's vice president of philanthropy. 

“Like programs at healthcare facilities around the country, our new security dog program features animals that are rigorously trained along with their specially selected handlers to help make Confluence Health patients and visitors, as well as staff and providers, feel safe” Urdahl said.  

The dogs are working dogs, and as such their primary role is security, the press release said. The dogs also are trained to interact with staff and visitors, but people should ask the handler before interacting with the dog to ensure they’re not interfering with the dog’s work. 

Bennett is a native of St. Louis, Mo.; he worked as an explosive detection K-9 handler for the U.S. Department of Energy at national laboratories in Oak Ridge, Tenn., and Los Alamos, N.M. 

Confluence Health Foundation members were given the chance to choose the name for the new dog, and asked Confluence staff to help them narrow down the choices, the press release said.  

“I have seen similar programs around the country and have witnessed the benefits this brings, not only to the safety of patients and staff but also in the joy it brings when the security dog visits on their rounds,” said Confluence Health CEO Dr. Andrew Jones. “These canine officers help build community, as well as protecting it, and we’re looking forward to Atlas joining our staff.”