- The Crisafulli Government is delivering more specialist police to the frontline to restore safety where you live.
- A father and son are the latest operational team to join the QPS Dog Squad in Coolum, strengthening frontline capability across the Coast.
- The Crisafulli Government is giving police the laws and resources they need to keep Queenslanders safe after a decade of decline under Labor.
The Crisafulli Government is continuing to deliver more specialist police to the frontline, with a father and son becoming the latest operational team to join the Queensland Police Service Dog Squad.
Based at the Coolum Dog Squad facility, the new handler and police dog team will support frontline operations across the North Coast, including deployments as part of Operation Forge – a high-visibility operation targeting repeat and serious offenders responsible for the most harm in Queensland communities.
Since launching on 27 February, Operation Forge has resulted in:
- 3,858 people charged for break-in offences;
- 834 people charged for robbery offences and;
- 2,718 people charged for stolen vehicle offences.
The new Dog Squad team is another example of the Crisafulli Government’s commitment to restoring safety where Queenslanders live by ensuring police have the specialist resources they need to target serious and repeat offenders.
The Queensland Police Service Dog Squad – which launched its 2027 Calendar yesterday – now consists of a record 115 police dogs and 95 handlers operating across 15 locations statewide, marking the largest Dog Squad unit ever seen in QPS history.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services Dan Purdie said specialist policing was a critical part of the Crisafulli Government’s plan to make Queensland safer.
“After a decade of Labor neglecting frontline policing, we’re backing our officers with the specialist capability they need to hunt down dangerous offenders, respond to high-risk incidents and protect Queenslanders,” Minister Purdie said.
“Whether it’s Operation Forge, tracking violent offenders, locating missing people or taking dangerous weapons and drugs off our streets, our record-breaking Dog Squad delivers outstanding results every single day.
“Seeing handlers and their dogs serve side-by-side in this elite unit is a powerful reminder that policing is more than a career – it’s a commitment to serving the community, and the Crisafulli Government is proud to support them with the laws and resources they deserve.”
Officer in Charge of the Sunshine Coast Dog Squad Acting Sergeant Trent Reynolds said the new team would strengthen the unit’s operational capability.
“The Dog Squad is a much valued and respected asset for our District. It’s a specialist resource that is unique and can result in outcomes that only the Dog Squad can deliver,” Acting Sergeant Trent Reynolds said.
“A lot of training and development goes into creating a successful Police Dog, and the location of offenders after a long and tiring track is extremely rewarding and satisfying.”
The announcement comes as five Dog Squad members in Brisbane were today awarded Valour Medals for their bravery, highlighting the vital role specialist police play in protecting Queensland communities.
