Lapd K9 Unit Protects and Serves the Community

The LAPD K9 Unit is a vital part of the Los Angeles Police Department, providing critical support to officers in the field. They are trained to detect narcotics, explosives, and other substances, making communities safer.

The unit is comprised of highly skilled canine handlers and their trained dogs, who work together to protect and serve the community. These teams are deployed in various situations, from patrol duties to search and rescue operations.

Each dog in the unit undergoes rigorous training to develop its skills, with some starting as young as 6-8 weeks old. This early start allows them to learn and adapt quickly, becoming valuable assets to the team.

The LAPD K9 Unit's expertise extends to various scenarios, including crowd control and suspect apprehension. Their presence helps to de-escalate tense situations, keeping both officers and the public safe.

The LAPD K9 Unit is a highly trained and specialized team that deploys police dogs to assist in various operations. They have been using dogs in their operations since April 1980, when they started a pilot program with two dogs that was declared a success just two months later.

The K9 Platoon has a Lieutenant II Officer-in-Charge who supervises the team, and six Sergeant IIs who serve as Field Supervisors. They also have three Police Officer III+1 Assistant Trainers and 15 Police Officer III Canine Handlers, all of whom are assigned a dog.

In 2021, there were 315 K9 deployments with 305 finds, and 69 of those finds resulted in a person being bitten or injured by a dog.

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The bodycam video of a frightening encounter in Los Angeles shows the importance of police K-9 units in apprehending suspects.

The incident occurred on Feb. 17 near San Vicente Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue, where an automatic license plate reader alerted officers to a reported stolen Lexus sedan.

The suspect, Ian Jimenez, 21, of Los Angeles, ran away into the nearby neighborhood, hopping over several fences as officers chased after him.

Jimenez was eventually tracked to a backyard on Masselin Avenue, where he was warned by officers to put down all weapons and come out with his hands raised.

The K-9 unit released their dog into the backyard, and a chaotic scene ensued as Jimenez wrestled with the dog, biting its arm and attempting to subdue it.

The handler called off the dog and other officers stood ready with less-lethal weapons, shouting at Jimenez to turn around.

Instead, he took off on foot again, hopping a fence and temporarily getting away, but was eventually tracked by a police helicopter and a second K-9 team.

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The K-9 Platoon is a highly trained unit within the LAPD, consisting of dog handlers and their police dogs. They're deployed to assist in various operations, including search and rescue missions.

In 1980, the LAPD first introduced dogs into their operations with a one-year pilot program that was deemed a success after just two months. This marked the beginning of the K-9 Platoon as we know it today.

The K-9 Platoon is supervised by a Lieutenant II Officer-in-Charge, with one Sergeant II serving as the Assistant Officer-in-Charge and five others as Field Supervisors. This team is responsible for overseeing the operations of the platoon.

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Each canine handler in the K-9 Platoon is assigned a dog, with four officers also having a second dog trained to detect firearms and ammunition. This specialized training allows the dogs to excel in their roles.

The LAPD's K-9 dogs are trained to "find and bark" when searching for suspects, rather than "find and bite" like some other law enforcement agencies. This approach reduces the risk of injury to suspects and bystanders.

In 2021, the K-9 Platoon saw 315 deployments, resulting in 305 finds. Of those finds, 69 led to a "contact" situation where a suspect was bitten or injured by a dog, and 4 resulted in a "categorical use of force incident" where a suspect was hospitalized due to a dog bite.