MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE BARSTOW, Calif. -- The crime fighting field can be a dog-eat-dog world, but with his new four-legged partner by his side, Officer Nadeem Seirafi, a Marine Corps Police Department working dog handler aboard Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, is ready to face the challenges that lay ahead.
Seirafi is currently teamed up with “Kit Kat,” an energetic 2-year-old German shepherd after switching to one of his dream jobs.
“Becoming either a K-9 handler or an investigator has always been one of my goals since I entered law enforcement,” remarked the Palm Springs, Calif., native. “I love working with dogs, my boss, Lieutenant (Robert) Ortiz is great and working with a dog has advantages.
“My partner’s never sick, he’s never late, he doesn’t talk back and he’s always happy to see me,” added Seirafi with a smile.
Prior to assuming responsibility of Kit Kat, the 32-year-old officer attended the DOD Military Working Dog School at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio from September to December 2010, where he enjoyed learning a variety of techniques.
“The school was fun and I really learned a lot,” Seirafi said. “Like most military schools, they put a lot of work on your plate, but I had a lot of fun learning a new skill set. The school was 11 weeks long and they taught me things like how to train a dog, how to patrol with the animal, search buildings and detection of narcotics and explosives.”
One thing is for certain; Seirafi’s furry sidekick will have a tall task in front of him when it comes to living up to the standard his master has set in the past aboard base.
A distinguished and decorated policeman in his own right— having been awarded the Meritorious Civilian Service Award nearly one year ago in recognition of his heroism and successful efforts to revive a 19 month-old toddler at the MCLB Barstow Commissary during January 2010— the good-natured policeman was again recognized, this time by Marine Corps Security and Emergency Services.
Seirafi was the recipient of the 2010 Security and Emergency Services Lifesaving Award at a March 9 ceremony in San Diego, presided over by Marine Corps Installations West Commander Maj. Gen. Anthony L. Jackson, who presented the civilian Marine with the honor.
“I was humbled and a little embarrassed,” said the bashful officer. “I felt that I was just doing my job and I wasn’t used to being the center of attention in front of so many high-ranking people. The general thanked me for doing a good job and told me the Marine Corps was proud of me and to keep up the good work.”
Not surprisingly, Seirafi expects great things from his collared co-worker in the future as well.
“Kit Kat has come a long way since his training started because he was really hyper when I first got him,” he said. “He’s a bit of a loner too, which I like, because he doesn’t need all of your attention 100 percent of the time like most dogs.
“I think we’ll be a good team because we both love to work,” he continued. “We might even be the next Turner & Hooch,” Seirafi chuckled.