Pinellas Park Police Department - Police Service Dog Unit

Over the years man has relied on canines for their work ethic, courage, companionship, and their acute sense of smell.  A dog's nose is their most advanced sense and is estimated to be one million times greater than a human's scent capability.  Police canines use their acute sense of smell to locate suspects or narcotics in any type of hiding spot. This ability affords officers a safer tool to utilize in apprehending suspects and narcotics.  Canines are without a doubt, one of the agency's finest crime fighting assets. Since 1982, the Pinellas Park Police Department's K-9 Unit has provided a number of invaluable support services to the agency's mission.  Assigned to the Special Operations Division, the agency currently employs three canine teams; Cpl. Perry and K9 Rocky, Ofc. Turner and K9 Dax, Ofc. Janovich and K9 Bronson.
	Imported from Germany and Hungary, the canines are paired with a handler and sent to a seventeen week canine patrol school.  Upon graduation, the canine team is assigned to assist the Patrol Division with calls such as: burglary, robbery or other in progress crimes; a crime where a subject has fled from the scene on foot; an open door or open window on a building necessitating a building search; a lost or missing person or child; situations where a large area needs to be searched for evidence or contraband; and large, unruly crowds of people where the dog can provide protection for officers.  The canines are "cross-trained" or dual certified to perform patrol functions and narcotics detection. After completing an eight week narcotics school, the canine team can assist Patrol with narcotics searches and the Vice/ Narcotics Division with search warrants, narcotics searches, and currency exams.
The canine teams devote over thirty hours a month to advanced patrol and drug training, and practice fundamental and scenario based exercises.  The working dogs are also on a strict diet and their health is monitored closely by the handler and the department's veterinarian.  The police canines live with the handler and their families. Specially equipped with the tools they need to succeed, the K-9 cruisers are also modified to ensure the safety of the dogs at all times. Additionally, through the generous donations of local businesses and private citizens, and the hard work of the Police Volunteers, we also have bullet resistant vests for our K-9 partners.
K9 Unit Contacts: Corporal C. Perry E-Mail: CPerry@Pinellas-Park.com Officer M. Turner E-Mail: MTurner@Pinellas-Park.com Officer D. Janovich E-Mail DJanovich@Pinellas-Parkcom