The history of using canines for police and military work goes back to the Romans using Neapolitan Mastiffs on the battlefield as “dogs of war.” However, police dogs are now an integral part of law enforcement, taking on the duties that they outperform humans in. Canines originally became our guardians and livestock herders through the ages. But when necessity required it, they acted as police dogs to ensure law and order while assisting in apprehending those lawbreakers.
The term “K-9” is a homophone for the word “canine.” Its first formal but unofficial use was during World War II. Its popularity undoubtedly rose from its ease of use instead of spelling out the word.
The Beginnings of Canine Training Units
Using dogs in police work is a no-brainer. They can smell and detect things better than we can. They can run faster than any human, with Greyhounds clocked at a blistering 45 mph. Canines are also better equipped, with the word “canine” meaning “pointed tooth.” Our early history with these animals is chock full of stories of dogs fighting alongside humans, but they found their way into law enforcement in the late 19th century.
The Belgians recognized the potential for using dogs in this capacity, with the first training facility opening in 1899 in Ghent, Belgium. They didn’t recruit the typical canines we think of for these roles. Instead, wolfhounds and sheepdogs stepped up to the plate. Their size was undoubtedly a point in their favor. It didn’t take long for others, including the NYPD, to learn about their potential.
The trainers used a unique approach. They taught the pups to associate uniformed police officers as friendly and anyone else as hostile. These dogs were the ultimate multitaskers, detecting and bringing down their quarry. Unfortunately, the dogs’ training backfired after many complaints and an accidental shooting. The NYPD disbanded the country’s first canine unit. Several other cities also tried and failed.
The Quartermaster War Dog Program
Police dogs didn’t go away despite the charges of being overly aggressive. Private agencies still used them during the early 20th century. The military also had canines. Law enforcement in London kept dogs as companions when doing their rounds. Germany opened a training facility in Greenheide in 1920, making the German Shepherd Dog their star pupil. Scotland Yard got into the act in 1938.
Then, World War II started. The military saw the potential for the trained canines and secured them for the war effort. An organization called “Dogs for Defense” teamed up with the American Kennel Club to encourage citizens to donate capable canines to join the Quartermaster Corp K-9 Corps. That’s where the police dogs came into their own, and where the first unofficial use of the term “K-9” appears.
The animals adapted well to their new roles after training with the US Armed Forces War Dog Program. More than 10,000 canines went on to serve all branches of the military in 15 War Dog platoons. In London, law enforcement used dogs in recovery missions to locate victims of the Blitz. The K-9 units’ service during the two world wars cemented their use in law enforcement.
The dogs performed several vital tasks, including the following:
- Mine detection
- Messengers
- Sentry duty
- Scouts
They would find similar duties stateside after the war. March 13, 1942, is the official founding of the US Army K-9 Corps.
Resurrecting Canine Use in Law Enforcement
The London Metropolitan Police recruited dogs for their regular duties after the end of World War II. Similarly, the United States resurrected canine use in various capacities, including security details in department stores. These efforts stalled in some areas for the same reasons they failed earlier. However, proponents recognized the need to refine the training methods and capitalize on the dogs’ strengths.
Several cities began training programs, including Dearborn, MI, Portland, OR, and Los Angeles, CA. The Baltimore City (MD) Police Department was the most successful, thanks to the efforts of a veteran of the US Marine’s K-9 Corps. Presumably, the use of the term “K-9” segued into law enforcement because of the widespread attention Baltimore received. Other nearby cities began their own K-9 units.
