Queensland’s Canine Force Expands

The Queensland Police Service (QPS) proudly announced the graduation of five new Police Dog teams, marking a historic expansion of its canine division. This event, held at the Brisbane Dog Squad, signifies the largest canine team size in the state’s history.

These newly graduated teams include PDs Hooper, Jero, Xero, Bruno, and Izzy along with their handlers. They will be stationed across Moreton, Rockhampton, and Townsville to enhance the QPS frontline operations in these regional areas. This increase includes the introduction of a new handler and general-purpose police dog role specifically in Rockhampton.

Since its inception in 1972, the QPS has grown to include 95 handlers and 115 police dogs distributed across 15 different locations statewide. The force comprises general-purpose dogs, specialist detection dogs, and tactical working dogs. The recent addition of these teams has pushed the frontline capability to record numbers.

The 12-week intensive training program completed by the graduates equips them with essential skills for general duties such as searches, offender tracking, and apprehension. Each dog was also honored with a QPS ceremonial collar at the graduation, symbolizing their official induction into the force.

Assistant Commissioner Rhys Wildman of the Emergency Response & Coordination Command emphasized the significant role these dogs and their handlers play in frontline policing. He highlighted the enhanced capacity for community safety and high-risk situation management provided by this expansion. Constable Morgan Prendergast, one of the graduates, expressed confidence in his canine partner PD Izzy, as they prepare for their deployment in Townsville, emphasizing the unique challenges and rewards of regional policing.

The graduation not only represents a personal achievement for the handlers and their dogs but also signifies a stronger, more capable frontline defense for the communities they serve across Queensland.