Around 40 Queensland Police Service (QPS) Police Dogs have today been recognised for their role in keeping the community safe, after receiving the QPS Canine Service Medal.
In a statement, QPS said the general-purpose PDs and their handlers play an important operational role, helping to track and arrest offenders, while detection dogs are trained to distinguish certain scents in a range of scenarios to support investigative activities.
Minister for Police and Community Safety, Mark Ryan, attended the event to help award the dogs with their medallions.
“The Canine Service Medal is an important way to honour the Police Dogs who work in the QPS and recognise how critical their role is in keeping the Queensland community safe,” said Mr Ryan.
“Police often encounter dangerous situations in the line of work, and this extends to the dogs as well, so it is wonderful that we can honour them in this way.”
Among the recipients being honoured in the first round of Canine Service Medals is 12-year-old PD Kaos, accompanied by his handler, Senior Constable Jim Griffiths (both pictured right, file image).
Kaos has displayed outstanding service and bravery during his time in the line of duty, between 2014 and 2021, helping to bring countless offenders to justice.
On February 2, 2020, PD Kaos was seriously injured when he was stabbed during the arrest of two offenders in Gordon Park.
He eventually recovered from his injuries, before valiantly returning to work a month later to continue protecting the community.
“PD Kaos always had a ‘never quit’ attitude – when he was on a track, he would keep working for as long as he needed to get the job done,” said Senior Constable Griffiths.
“He was always a reliable and hard-working Police Dog during his career, with a high drive and motivation to locate offenders.
“But at the same time, he had a unique ability to switch between work mode and home life.
“Kaos is currently enjoying the perks of retirement, living a very relaxed and spoilt life, but it was very special to see him honoured today.”
PD Kaos is now retired and his efforts are being honoured to reflect his outstanding contribution.
The nomination process for the Canine Service Medal will soon be available retrospectively for dogs who served in the QPS from the year 1990 onwards.
Dogs who were seriously injured or killed before they could meet the five-year threshold will also be eligible for nomination.
“The Dog Squad is a remarkable capability that delivers outstanding operational success right across Queensland to keep our community safe,” said QPS Commissioner Steve Gollschewski.
“Our canine capability complements the tremendous work of our on-road crews, and the ability of police dogs to apprehend offenders quickly significantly enhances our tactical response to prevent further crime from occurring.”
