Eight new recruits are ready to ‘paw-trol’ the community as the NSW Police Force welcomes its new police puppies.
The newest canine members of the force – four males and four females – form the ‘B’ litter and were born on Saturday 9 May 2020.
The boys have been named Bluey, Bonus, Bruno and Bane and the girls have been called Bailey, Bounty, Bindi and Bibi.
The Dog Unit, formed in 1932, is the largest police dog unit in Australia with more than 100 police officers, nine civilian staff and more than 100 police dogs.
The names for the puppies were chosen from within the Dog and Mounted Police Command as it is the first litter to be born since the unit merged with the Mounted Unit on Monday 24 February 2020.
Police and Emergency Services Minister David Elliott said the puppies, in time, would be deployed to assist police officers carry out their duties, including pursuits, and searches to locate weapons.
“These ‘B’ litter German Shepherd puppies, when fully trained, will be out on the beat standing side-by-side with police as they keep the community safe,” Mr Elliott said.
“They are an incredibly important law enforcement tool and will certainly be a loyal best friend to NSW Police officers especially as the state continues to face the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Dog and Mounted Police Commander, Superintendent Peter McErlain, said the German Shepherd puppies will undergo rigorous training before they are put to work in the community.
“Our puppies train, not just for general purposes policing, but also for drug and explosives detection, urban search and rescue as well as locating cadavers,” Supt McErlain said.
“While they are very cute now, in due course they will be a vital part of policing in assisting officers to target, disrupt and tackle crime across the state.”
Patron of the Dog Unit, Andrea Fuller, said the puppies are a welcome addition to the NSW Police Force.
“It’s always great to see another litter of police puppies who are so full of life and on their way to becoming such a valuable asset to the NSW Police Force,” Mrs Fuller said.
“I know we all in the community wish these eight puppies all the best for their upcoming training.”
