Constable Ciaran Jansen will join Leo (3) in Dunedin as one of three new dog teams which graduated from the New Zealand Police Dog Training centre in Trentham.
Dunedin dog section supervisor Sergeant Mike Calvert was pleased to be welcoming Const Jansen to the unit after a tough year of training.
"Ciaran has put in a lot of hard work and dedication to achieve his goal," Sgt Calvert said.
Const Jansen hails from a police family in Dunedin. His father, Senior Constable Fred Jansen, served 23 years in Green Island.
Sgt Calvert was happy the unit would be helping to foster local talent and the new blood would bring the section to a total of five teams.
The next closest unit was located in Invercargill and the Dunedin team deployed all around the Southern district.
It was great to have the boost to the district’s dog capability, Sgt Calvert said.
Leo had being working operationally in the city for 10 months with another handler, but would be Const Jansen’s first operational dog.
Const Jansen’s original dog had developed a spinal issue, so he had taken over Leo from fellow dog section member Senior Constable Tim Roy, Sgt Calvert said.
Snr Const Roy had taken over Eco (5), who came from Invercargill.
While it was unusual for a handler to give up their dog, the nature of the Dunedin dog section was that any of the handlers could work with any of the dogs.
The dogs were all trained the same and were bonded to their individual handler as well as the unit as a whole.
Ultimately, they were part of a large family, Sgt Calvert said.
Acting Assistant Commissioner people and capability Jill Rogers said experienced and level-headed officers were chosen, along with the best dogs.
"You will be called on to use all your training and that of your highly trained dog."
The new teams would play a key role in volatile, challenging and dynamic situations, she said.
