A patrol canine unit increases departmental efficiency, while enhancing the safety of both officers and the community. Studies have shown that building searches are quicker and more effective when a dog is used than when officers alone are involved, with a significant increase in officer safety. Just the presence of a canine tends to encourage quicker compliance in situations that might otherwise have become confrontational.

The K9 teams provide other benefits as well. When not being utilized on a K9 request or doing on-duty training, the patrol K9 handlers assist by backing up patrol officers on non-K9 calls, take primary on minor investigations and perform traffic enforcement.

From 2005-2007, the MPD Patrol K9 unit has been utilized as follows:

Total K9 Deployments 1,833 including: 

Narcotics 957

Patrol 876

Tracks 313

Building Searches 164 

Evidence Searches 111

Area Searches 63

Outside Cover 124 

 Seizures:

THC 13,567 grams (30+ pounds) 

Cocaine/Cocaine Base 41,642 grams (92+ pounds)

US Currency $142,486

Firearms 9

Vehicles 3