2. Dog Squad When and why it came into existence The Victorian Police formed a Dog Squad in 1975. This was due to the fact that dogs have the natural ability to find hidden property and people. They can often access places that it would be unsafe and impractical for police members to access. Having a dog squad enabled the police to handle situations more easily and track hidden property and persons that usually wouldn’t be able to be found. The dogs are used to assist police when necessary. The dogs and handlers undertake tasks that include; tracking offenders, or detecting explosives or narcotics. They respond to sexual attacks, brawls, prowlers, break and entering offences, lost persons and violent situations to assist in the best way possible. The dogs can specialise in one area out of three which are; general purpose, narcotics and explosives.
3. Dog Squad Skills and training Dog handlers are skilled police officers who have served for a few years before they specialise as a dog handler. The dog training centre is at Attwood in Victoria. Here the dogs are handlers are trained by qualified members. The dogs undergo general training which takes approximately 18 weeks. Throughout this course the dogs are trained in agility, searching for property and people, tracking, criminal work and retrieving.
4. Duties of Police Dogs: Search and Rescue Dog – To locate suspects and objects. To find missing persons. Drug Detection Dog – To sniff and identify narcotics, either hidden within objects or on a person. Explosive Sniffing Dog – To sniff and identify explosives, either hidden within objects or on a person. Arson Dog – To sniff and pick-up on traces of accelerants at sites of suspected arson.
5. Armed Man Subdued by Police Dog In June 2010, an armed man was arrested in the garden of Nunawoding Police Station as a result of the work of a police dog. The armed man had earlier threaten a Taxi driver with a gun, resulting in the Taxi driver driving to the Nunawoding Police Station. The police called in the dogs squad to apprehend the armed man. Upon arrival the police dog was able to over power the suspect, which resulted in the man being safely apprehended. A gun was late found and seized from the man, who suffered from a small dog bite. http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/armed-man-subdued-by-police-dog-20100621-ypls.html
7. Becoming a Police Officer Step 1: Entrance Exam; It is made up of 5 tests which need to be passed. The Entrance Exam includes different components as it includes spelling and comprehension, mathematics, reasoning ability, English skills and a writing task. It costs $90 to sit the test and after 2 weeks you should be notified of your results. Step 2: An application form is filled out with all of your contact details. Step 3: Your fingerprints are taken at a police station Step 4: A background check is then completed to see if you have been involved in any police matters. Step 5: A fitness test is then undertaken where different fitness components are tested. This is to ensure you are fit to undertake tasks requires when an officer. This test is done every 6 months even if you are already a police officer.
9. Becoming a Police Officer Step 6: You are interviewed by officers to see if you are suitable or not to undergo training.
10. Police Academy Training Hours Training at the Academy stars at 7:30am to 4:10pm Monday to Friday. These hours may change however and it is for 33 weeks. Requirements At the Police Academy there are lectures, physical training and operational skills that need to be learnt in order to carry out duties of a police officer. You must qualify in all of these aspects and at the end of week 12 you become a probationary constable. You will work at a police station throughout various stages of your training to give you the knowledge of what being an officer requires and to help prepare you.
11. Police Academy After this training on order to become a constable you need to do another 2 years of training which includes occasional visits to the academy. You will then graduate with a Diploma of Public Safety with Victoria Police.
