MVPD has one of the longest-running K9 programs in Northern California. Our first service dogs, Alf and Ox, joined the department in 1961. We've helped 15 other police departments, from as far away as Anchorage, Alaska, establish their own K9 units.
Dogs have a keen sense of smell and hearing, making them a valuable partner in police work. Twenty-six police dogs have served Mountain View. We purchase dogs when they're about two years old—all German Shepherds (except for one Rottweiller). Except for a brief period in the 1960s, we have imported all of our dogs from Europe (Germany, Holland, Czechoslovakia), because of strict European breeding standards.
Tino and Officer Thomas tracking.
MVPD has deployed only one female dog. Females are usually kept for breeding. Males who aren't chosen as show dogs are screened for police work. Only one in 100 dogs are found suitable. They must be gentle, courageous, and have exceptional stamina.
K9 handlers are chosen from patrol officer ranks. When there's an opening, interested officers apply and interview with a panel. Command staff selects the officers on the basis of previous evaluations, work ethic, independence, proactivity, leadership, and home situation. Service dogs live with their handlers, who have the option to purchase their dogs upon retirement.
The city pays for and owns all police service dogs. Today, a dog costs $15,000 to $20,000. This includes a 160-hour basic training course for the handler and dog. A new K9 team goes to work only after successfully completing basic training, narcotic detection training, and state certification.
K9 teams work patrol night shifts because of the kinds of assignments they take on: - Any crime in progress
- Burglar alarms
- Prowler calls
- Building and open area searches
- Tracking
- Other assignments requiring dogs' refined senses
Officer Thomas stands by while Tino searches a car.
Because of their extraordinary sense of smell, tracking and searching make up most K9 deployments. Their sense of hearing is also a great asset. A police dog will respond to noise from 140 yards, compared to about 40 yards for a human.
Police dogs are one of the most effective and diverse tools known to police work. Besides being terrific companions, they save time for our officers, reduce the number of officers needed for a search, or to contain an area, deliver a more thorough search, and help keep our officers safe during apprehension of dangerous criminals.
Mountain View Police Department has used our K-9's in many searches and we have apprehended many criminals. If you see a police K-9 searching in your neighborhood....
- Go inside
- Secure your animals in the house
- Lock your doors and windows
- Do not answer the door until you know who is knocking
- Call 911 if you see suspicious persons on your property
- Do not allow anyone in your house that you do not know - regardless of their claims
When we come to your door to check your yard... - Notify law enforcement of any potential hiding places or dangers in your yard
- Give the officers keys to your gate
- Stay inside
- Do not come outside until we have left the area, not just your yard.
Police service dogs and aircraft are our best tools for finding suspects. We understand all of these tools are entertaining to watch. Please watch them from the safety of inside your home. Thank you. |  | 
Tino
Testino vom Zirndorfer Gauner
DOB: October 5, 2000
82 lbs.
Officer: Scott Thomas
Tino is the most relaxed of our dogs. He has a puppy at home to play with and is very gentle. He excels in tracking and evidence work, in part because of his calm, patient nature. He's MVPD's SWAT dog and often attends SWAT training with his officer.
Ugo
Ugo Eqidius
DOB: December 7, 2002
82 lbs.
Officer: Ricky Valenzuela
More than anything, Ugo enjoys going to work (2nd only to getting home from work and sleeping). His favorite pastime is chewing on his toys and sometimes even rocks. Ugo is trained in both Patrol and Narcotics.
Astor
Astor von der Ijsselkade
DOB: July 25, 2000
97 lbs.
Officer: Greg Sula
Astor came with a list of commands, in Dutch, but no bathroom command. Häagen-Dazs®, the ice cream, was the only Dutch his officer knew. What started as a joke became his bathroom word.
K9 Activities
Deployments
2006: 408 (135 hours)
2007: 464 (160 hours)
Suspect Apprehensions
2006: 12
2007: 18
Narcotic Searches (Finds)
2006: 49 (17)
2007: 80 (23)
Mutual Aid Responses
2006: 24
2007: 21
A Dog's Life
A dog's career can vary from 4-10 years. MVPD average: about 7.5 years.
A Dog's Nose...
... is more than 1000 times more sensitive than a human's.
A dog's hearing is more acute than a human's.
Dogs see moving objects better than humans do, while humans see still objects better.
Questions?
K9 Unit Leader
Lt. Ken Miller
650/903-6354
More Police Contacts |
