Topeka ? Flying dogs fighting crime might sound like something out of a cartoon, but it could soon become a reality after a seminar in Topeka prepared police K-9 units from around the country for helicopter missions.

The Topeka Police Department’s K-9 handlers said deploying dogs from a helicopter would reduce time spent driving to counties and cities that don’t have police dogs.

“If it was an emergency situation, we would come out here to the helicopter and be there in five minutes,” said Officer Steve Purney, a Topeka K-9 handler.

Purney said helicopter deployment also could be helpful if officers were looking for a suspect in a wooded area or near lakes or rivers that patrol cars can’t easily access.

K-9 teams from across the country were at Topeka’s Philip Billard Municipal Airport this week to learn how to deploy via helicopter.

The helicopter training exercise was part of a three-day seminar for K-9 teams, hosted by the Topeka K-9 unit from Monday through Wednesday. Fifty teams — from Arizona, Oklahoma, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas — participated.

During helicopter training, the dogs were conditioned to different stages of becoming airborne. The dogs started by sitting in the helicopter while it was turned off. They worked their way up to getting into it while it was running and then going for a ride.

“There were a few who were a little nervous,” said Gary Ludolph, a Topeka K-9 officer. “But doing it at first, that’s going to happen with any type of dog.”

Purney said his dog, Havoc, loved it. Officer Derek Frisby said his dog, Kaos, overcame his fears.

“At first he was kind of skittish. After we got up, he started to calm down,” Frisby said.

The dogs were secured in the helicopter by their leashes. The handlers, also strapped in, would wrap their arms around the dogs as well.

“Dogs have no depth perception,” Purney said. “So they don’t know they’re off the ground.”

Topeka K-9 handlers said the helicopter deployment may be incorporated into their future training exercises.

“Anytime you’re doing something new, to get the dogs used to it you just have to do it, do it, do it.” Ludolph said. “That way the dog gets comfortable with it, so if it shows up in a real scenario, then hopefully you’ll know how the dog will react.”