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The City of Columbia Police Department formulated its canine unit
in 1988, which has grown from one canine and one handler to twelve
canines and ten handlers.
The canines are Nationally certified in
narcotics, tracking, protection, and obedience. These canines go through
many hours of training with their assigned handlers. The police canine
needs to be a social dog, as well as a protective one, acting on the
specific commands of its handler as varying situations require. The
canine is selected at birth and its training begins immediately.
The
canine’s average years of service is 8-10 years, after which the canine
is retired and allowed to be a pet. The handler is an officer that
loves dogs, in addition to being in very good physical condition.
The handler also receives a National certification for various stages
of his handling of the canine (tracking, narcotics, explosives, protection,
trainer or instructor).
The handler attends many long and hard physical
hours of training throughout his career with his canine. The partnership
between canine and handler is one of the most unique in the police
force, because at the end of each shift the canine actually goes home
with the handler, and becomes part of his family.
(See
Photo Album)
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