Welcome to the Colorado Springs Police Department K-9 Facebook page. We thank you for your support.
In 1986 the Colorado Springs Police Canine Unit was started. Two teams were trained and funded by the FAA Program through the airport. Handlers were trained at Lacklan AFB in Texas. In 1987 three more teams were added to the Unit from the Colorado Springs Police budget. These teams were also trained at Lacklan AFB in Texas. Five street teams were deployed to assist patrol Officers to include Narcotic searches in Colorado Springs and in the El Paso County area.
In 2007, three more handler teams were added to the Unit, bringing the the number of K9 teams on the CSPD K9 Unit to nine. All nine teams are patrol support and assist other specialized units.
All new handlers must go through a 440 hour K9 Academy with their canine partner. That academy is completed within the Unit under the direction of the Unit Trainer, Officer Andrew Genta. Once the K9 Academy is completed, Teams enter field training and begin handling K9 calls for service under the supervision of a field training officer. Once the teams have completed the requirements of field training they are cleared to work the streets.
The CSPD K9 Unit currently has six Belgian Malinois and four Dutch Shepherds.
The training of each handler team will include, but not be limited to, the following skills:
1) Tracking
2) Building Search
3) Field Search
4) Handler Protection
5) Physical Apprehension
EVALUATION PROCESS:
During training, the teams will be reviewed by the Canine Supervisor as to their suitability for deployment. Each team will be evaluated on the following:
1) Field Obedience
2) Building Search
3) Tracking
4) Field Search
5) Handler Protection
6) Aggression Control
Police working dogs have a finite working life. Because of their special training, however, they cannot be routinely retired to live as a pet. Only dogs who demonstrate consistent and predictably sociable disposition will be retired by the Department. Canines that are over-protective or have not "mellowed" due to old age will, unfortunately, be euthanized.
When a handler leaves the unit and would be leaving an older canine, an assessment by the chain of command will evaluate the cost effectiveness of retraining the animal to a new handler or retiring a qualified animal to the original handler.
The mission of the Canine Unit is to provide a trained canine that can be deployed whenever needed to fulfill a mission to safeguard the community and its officers. Additionally, to provide a clear deterrent to resistive suspects intent on assault, evasion, or escape.
Reviews, get directions and information Colorado Springs Police K-9 Unit.
