Meet the faithful companions who’re helping us take a bite out of crime!
By: Rachel Ng
In Singapore, dogs have played an important role in policing since the 1950s. These faithful companions are carefully selected and trained to play specialised roles according to their unique temperaments and skills. Here’s how they put their best paw forward to keep Singapore safe and secure!
The Police Dog Unit
In 1954, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) sent Chief Inspector Frank C Pestana to the Metropolitan Police Dog Training School in Kent, the United Kingdom, to attend a three-month-long Dog Instructor Course. There, he was gifted a German Shepherd named Rover, and they worked as a team to track targets and conduct patrols.
In 1955, Chief Inspector Pestana brought Rover and four other dogs back to Singapore to form the nucleus of the SPF’s Police Dog Unit. The dogs were based at the Police Academy with their trainee handlers. After five months of training, the dogs began their deployments, helping to suppress secret society activities and disorderly crowds; perform anti-housebreaking patrols; and track criminals.
Early Years
The Police Dog Unit grew from strength to strength. For a period, the Unit housed more than 15 dogs at the Police Reserve Unit at Mount Vernon. Sadly, in 1965, nearly all these dogs perished from a severe disease.
The Unit was given a new lease of life in 1970 when it acquired Mowbray Camp and its guard dog detachment from the departing British Armed Forces. Mowbray Camp had a larger training space and enabled the sharing of common training and kennelling facilities with the Singapore Armed Forces’ Provost Unit.
Under the command of Senior Inspector Michael Chan, the Police Dog Unit grew in importance. Partnerships with law enforcement counterparts in the United Kingdom and New Zealand also helped to bolster the Unit. By 1973, the Police Dog Unit had more than 30 dogs.
One Home Team
The Police Dog Unit helped establish the Customs Dog Unit in 1977. In just over two years, and with the support of partners like the United States Customs Service, the first 60 narcotics-detecting dogs in Singapore were trained. In 1987, the Police Dog Unit absorbed the Customs Dog Unit into its narcotics detection dog team. Today, such teams help to safeguard Singapore’s border crossings.
In 1995, the Police Dog Unit also took over the functions of the Prison Dog Unit. The security dog teams from the SPF K-9 Unit continue to be deployed at penal institutions and drug rehabilitation centres.
Entering the New Millennium
In 2003, the Police Dog Unit was renamed the Police K-9 Unit and made part of the newly established Special Operations Command. In 2004, the Unit was moved to its current base in Choa Chu Kang, which is equipped with state-of-the-art training facilities and kennels, including a training block for explosive-detection dogs.
This capability was first introduced in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks in New York City. Explosive-detection dogs are specially trained to detect hidden explosives and are deployed with the Public Transport Security Command and at Singapore’s checkpoints.
Today, the Police K-9 Unit continues to support a range of frontline operations. Dogs are often seen as lovable companions by those who keep them as pets. But their loyalty and strength are especially valued by the Police officers who work with them to keep Singapore safe and secure!
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