SDPD Unveils New K9 Training Facility
Chief of Police William Lansdowne, along with civic and community leaders celebrated the start of a new era of comprehensive, on-site training for SDPD’s K9 Unit on Thursday, December 8th at the facility. The event included a ribbon-cutting ceremony, K9 training demonstrations and facility tours.
This exciting new facility for the K9 Unit is equipped with the following training aids:
- Windows and an attic to acclimate dogs to being carried on an officer’s back and being placed through windows, attics, and small spaces.
- Durable stairs with open-back panels help train canines to navigate open stairs, which are common throughout San Diego.
- Open panels in the walls allow officers to hide explosives or narcotics for scent training.
- Crawl space aids in training the dogs to be comfortable in tight spaces.
The new SDPD K9 training structure is made possible by the generous support of The Gary and Mary West Foundation, Calderon Builders, and Dixieline. The new structure will greatly enhance the K9 Unit’s training capability.
The Unit, which operates 24 hours per day, 24/7, currently has 27 canine teams consisting of one officer and one dog. Over the next 18 months, many of the dogs will be retiring due to their age and the physical impact of the job.
If you would like to support the K9 Unit, and the replacements for retiring canines, contact the Police Foundation at (619) 232-2130.