“Tails” of K9
Like police officers, police canines have diverse specialties and serve various units. The “Tails” of K9 series highlights K9 Crimefighters that serve SDPD and our community.
Join us for the Cirque du Soirée on September 21 for an elevated, circus-inspired evening showcasing the spectacular service of our police dogs.
Officer Wellness Canine
Assigned to the Wellness Unit, these psychological support dogs for mental health can detect anxiety, sadness, anger, fear, and stress, helping SDPD officers, civilian professionals, and their families manage their emotional well being. As SDPD’s first wellness canine, Walker offers support for officers who respond to critical incidents and is always available for a quick belly rub.
Mobile Odor Detection Dogs
Mobile Odor Detection (MOD) dogs are specifically trained to sniff out the presence of a wide variety of explosives to keep large crowds, events, and conferences safe. They are critical members of the Explosives Detection Team within the K9 Unit. You may see Sai at large public events such as Comic-Con, Padres games, and December Nights in Balboa Park.
Child Advocate Companion Canine
These canines deliver therapy services that reduce stress, fear, and anxiety for our most vulnerable victims: children. They offer solidarity and consistency to victims and witnesses during sexual and physical abuse investigations and prosecutions, providing children with a safe space to communicate more openly. Lyle Hope is SDPD’s first-ever Child Advocate Companion Canine. Lyle Hope was chosen for his calmness, maturity, and ability to think for himself. Working in the Child Abuse Unit, he must easily settle down for long periods of time and be confident and calm in emotional situations.
Electronic Scent Detection Canine
These dogs specialize in detecting and locating electronic storage media including hard drives, flash drives, SD cards, and cell phones. They find devices that hold electronic evidence, which aid in the investigation and apprehension of child predators. Willow has served the San Diego Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force for over three years. The SD-ICAC Task Force investigates online child pornography and online predators.
Learn more about the K9 Program: https://sdpolicefoundation.org/initiatives/k9-program/