Photo credit: QPS
Senior Constable Mutt and his mates from the Queensland Police have been honoured for their fearless and dedicated service to the people of the state for almost five decades.
A Police Dog Service Monument was unveiled yesterday (Tuesday) in the town of Stanthorpe in the Southern Downs region. It recognises the more than 430 police dogs who have served since the Dog Squad was established almost 50 years ago.
The monument consists of over 300 engraved stones bearing names and details of dogs who have been part of the force since 1972.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Stephen Dabinett of the Queensland Police said the dogs serving in the force were critical to crime-fighting by supporting frontline officers around the clock – from tracking offenders on foot to locating hidden drugs.
“From humble beginnings, the QPS quickly saw the value of police dogs to the Service and we have now grown to 15 Dog Squads and 86 dog teams across the state,” he commented.
“The bond between a dog and handler is incredible and this monument has been a great opportunity to bring together our members and the community to share stories and acknowledge the great contribution of these animals.”
Dabinett said students at Stanthorpe State High School designed and created the monument, with the individual stones funded by members of the community, local businesses and QPS officers around the state.
“We will continue to raise funds for the additional stones to recognise all dogs and add to the monument as new dogs are inducted into the Service,” he stated.
According to the National Police Dog Foundation in the US, the most popular breeds for police work are German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois, Dutch Shepherds, and occasionally mixes of these breeds.
Less popular, but still used at times, are Rottweilers, Doberman Pinchers and Bouvier de Flandres. Other breeds are used for detection work, if this is their sole purpose.
Labrador Retrievers are often used for narcotics and explosives detection, evidence discovery, and for Search and Rescue functions. Bloodhounds are used for trailing, while many mixed breeds can be used for detection and scent work as well.