American Detection Technologies -AMDETECH- Announces Agreement With Spectrum Security of Hawaii to Manage Security Business on Islands.

Business Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 25, 2003

American Detection Technologies, Inc. (AMDETECH), a national leader in contraband detection services using highly-trained canine teams, today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Spectrum Security Services, Ltd. of Honolulu, Hawaii to manage and operate Spectrum's security guard and passenger screening business throughout the Hawaiian Islands. Additionally, AMDETECH is making an equity investment into Spectrum and will hold two seats on Spectrum's Board of Directors. Spectrum will function as a subsidiary coming under the AMDETECH umbrella of companies.

Under the terms of the agreement, AMDETECH will work with Spectrum management to oversee the day-to-day activities and business affairs of Spectrum, including the supervision and monitoring of customer accounts and personnel, administrative services, hiring of additional personnel, facilities maintenance, the purchase of goods and services, and billing, collections and accounting activities.

"We are pleased to announce this partnership with Spectrum Security, where we can offer our premier security management expertise, combined with our canine detection services, to become the leading contraband detection and maritime security service in the Hawaiian Islands," said Ronald H. Allen, Chief Executive Officer of AMDETECH. "With the new Maritime Security Bill passed by Congress last November mandating security plans for the nation's 361 seaports, the emphasis on seaport security is at its highest level ever. AMDETECH has extensive experience in this area, and we look forward to implementing our innovative security program in a lucrative, high profile location such as Hawaii."

Spectrum Security, LTD has been a wholly-owned subsidiary of Waldron Steamship Company, a 100-year-old shipping agency icon that is the largest and oldest established agency in Hawaii, serving all Hawaiian Islands and ports. Waldron provides services including freight handling, brokerage, crew handling, and marine consulting, as well as providing local knowledge to its clients, from its offices in the Waldron Control Tower in Honolulu Harbor's Pier 1.

Bill Thayer, President of Waldron, commented, "Our Spectrum business is to provide security for our contracted cargo and passenger vessels and has grown dramatically. We anticipate that AMDETECH's world-class personnel and resources, combined with our strong local presence and reputation, will make us the dominant security company throughout the Hawaiian Islands."

Thayer added, "Since most goods arrive in Hawaii by ship, sea transportation and security are priority issues here that are perfectly suited to our joint expertise in both planning and implementing effective security programs for ships."

AMDETECH already has an office in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida to serve the ports of Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Canaveral, Tampa, Palm Beach, Manatee, and Jacksonville. Other cities serviced by AMDETECH include Boston, New York, Seattle, Honolulu, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Quebec City. In addition to port facilities and cruise ships, AMDETECH offers services for government buildings, celebrities, universities, schools, and medical facilities. The Honolulu location is AMDETECH's fifth office, joining existing sites in New York City, Palm Beach Gardens, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.

AMDETECH's premier detection services, which will be offered in Hawaii, include explosive detector dog teams, narcotic detector dog teams, hand-held ION scanner searches, narcotic substance and residue testing, port security surveys, and threat assessments. AMDETECH also provides an internet-based system, including wireless capabilities, to track its dogs, handlers and jobs, as well as provide real-time video transmissions to a central monitoring station.

Allen described AMDETECH's services as having certified AMDETECH Tactical Response Teams, which are already on-call in selected U.S. ports, search entire areas for explosives or narcotics with both dogs and ION scanners, pinpoint any contraband substance in the area, and organize an effective response to a "positive" alert from its canines.

Regarding training, Allen said the dogs are rigorously educated by a behavior modification system based on the one developed by the U.S. Customs Detector Dog Training Program. The pups are raised on AMDETECH's Connecticut Campus, or imported from Eastern Europe, and when ready are relocated to AMDETECH's Florida Campus at the International K-9 College of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida to be trained to meet or exceed national standards, as well as become acclimated to warmer weather. All dogs undergo a minimum of 400 hours of detection training and continued proficiency training. Multiple training platforms are then used to prepare dogs for any situation they will encounter in the field, and the company then selects only the top performers for active duty.

Allen also said the AMDETECH's primary team members and trainers have a total of more than 100 years of dog training experience in explosive & narcotic detection and police patrol & tracking. Team members have been trained by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), U.S. Drug Enforcement, U.S. Customs Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), the U.S. Dept. of Transportation, and the U.S. Dept. of Treasury. In addition to the K-9 law enforcement backgrounds, all handlers are instructed in AMDETECH's exclusive detection methods and attend federally regulated training programs on the latest detection techniques.

AMDETECH also has a strategic partnership with Southern Hills Kennels, Inc. of Daytona Beach, Florida to provide dog training, kenneling facilities and additional personnel for AMDETECH's complete narcotic and explosive detection services.

ABOUT AMERICAN DETECTION TECHNOLOGIES, INC. (AMDETECH)

American Detection Technologies, Inc. (AMDETECH), with offices in New York City, Florida, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Hawaii, provides the premier detection service available today. AMDETECH's highly qualified canines are "Bred to Detect and Protect" through rigorous training, and then only the top performers are selected to work for the company. AMDETECH's services include explosive detector dog teams, narcotic detector dog teams, hand-held ION scanner searches, narcotic substance and residue testing, port security surveys, and threat assessments. Types of customers include government buildings, cruise ships, port facilities, celebrities, universities, schools, and medical facilities. AMDETECH's handlers have exemplary backgrounds, including federally regulated training programs, as well as AMDETECH's own strict training regimens. AMDETECH's dogs meet or exceed certification standards of the United States Police Canine Association (U.S.P.C.A.) the National Police Canine Association (N.P.C.A.), and regarding explosive detector dogs, The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF). AMDETECH President Ronald H. Allen has more than 29 years experience as a police officer, during which time he has completed numerous police dog training seminars hosted by various sponsoring agencies nationwide, including the Narcotic Detector Dog Trainer Program sponsored by the U.S. Customs Detector Dog Training Center in Virginia. Allen was formerly National Vice President of the United States Police Canine Association; Director of K-9 Training for the Massachusetts Criminal Justice Training Council; a member of the Task Force responsible for the first statewide K-9 certification program in the U.S.; a member of the K-9 Training minimum standards Task Forces for New York and Florida; a K-9 Judge, Witness, Evaluator, Consultant, Program Developer, Trainer and Handler at various police departments in Massachusetts, Florida and Louisiana; and was the first American police officer to teach detector dog training in Russia in 1994. AMDETECH is an Associate Member of the International Council of Cruise Lines (ICCL) and a member of the National Cargo Security Council (NCSC). For more information, please visit the company's website at www.amdetech.com.

For a previous AMDETECH news release with photo and logo, click below:

http://www.newstream.com/us/public_story.html?7478