Del Rey Oaks K-9 team part of Super Bowl 50 security detail

A local bomb-sniffing police dog is headed to Super Bowl 50. The Del Rey Oaks Police Department K-9 team will be part of the security detail in Santa Clara.

Sarik, a 3-year-old German Shepard,and his partner Officer Chris Salopek are one of a kind on the Central Coast.

“I’ve never worked an event this big before in my 22 years as a law enforcement officer. This will probably be the biggest thing that I will have the opportunity to work,” said Salopek.

Salopek said he was contacted by the FBI K-9 unit to work the biggest sporting event of the year. He and Sarik will join 200 other police dogs across the state.

“I’m sure wherever they put us it’s going to be someplace important and we’re really looking forward to it,” said Salopek.

Sarik is the only bomb-sniffing dog in Monterey County. Since searching for explosives is his specialty, police say his skills are lifesaving. The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security said they are on alertabout possible threats duringSuper Bowl 50.

“In today’s society, what we are dealing with today, it’s of utmost importance to have those bomb-sniffing dogs there,” said K-9 instructor Carey Lindgren.

Lindgren said Sarik’s nose is 5,000 times more effective than a human’s.

“They are able to smell things that we can’t even fathom yet and they can search a building much faster than we can and much safer than we can,” said Lindgren.

Sarik doesn’t know his exact duties yet, but come game day Salopek said the two will be ready.

“Our primary mission is to protect our residents here in Del Rey Oaks. But it is always nice to help out in other areas when we can. I’m pretty excited about it and I know the dog is too,” said Salopek.