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BPD’s K9 Unit Gets New Wheels

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The first of four new Chevy Tahoes, specially equipped for the K9 Teams, has hit the road. The vehicles were procured through the police department’s master-lease plan; some of the lighting equipment, however, was funded by the K9 donation fund. The utility vehicle has all-interior emergency lights funded by donations.

The Tahoes have been altered to house the dog cage where the second row of seats would otherwise be so that the handler can open the door remotely. With a combination of electronics and hydraulics, the officer can be separated from the car and open the door with the touch of a button. Captain Herb Evers commands the K9 Unit and explained that an officer might make a traffic stop and not take the dog with him initially. If the officer determines he needs the dog, he doesn’t have to take his attention away from the situation at hand. He added, "They train so that the dog knows that’s going to happen and can figure out where the handler is and the dog knows to listen for commands".

K9 handler Officer Franks received the first Tahoe because his former patrol car was judged to be the most road weary, he said "as the newest handler I thought one of the other guys should get one first. But I'm really enjoying driving it and so far the public has been very impressed."

The vehicles also have a "hot-dog" temperature control system which sets off an alarm to notify the handler if the dog is in the car and the temperature is either too hot or too cold. The three other Tahoes will be rolled out in the coming weeks, increasing the department’s SUV fleet from three to seven overall.