Police K9 Unit officially relaunched, dogs to be trained to detect cash
Three police dogs were presented to local media at the relaunch of the RVIPF K9 Unit on Wednesday, November 28. (Photo by Esther Durand/BVI News)
With the growing cases of financial crimes in the territory, dogs in the newly-relaunched Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) K9 Unit will soon be trained to detect large amounts of cash.
The unit, which has not been in opertion for about three years, was officially relaunched on Wednesday at the Road Town Police Station.
The K9 Unit now comprises three trained veteran police officers, three canines, and two new vehicles that has been fitted with dog kennels.
Commissioner of Police Michael Matthews described the relaunch as a ‘momentous occasion’ for the RVIPF and said the unit will assist in a number of different criminal cases.
Already the dogs were trained in detecting illicit drugs, as well as firearms and explosives, he said, noting that further training is underway.
“We are looking at training them in the scent of money because we know that there is a lot of cash floating about in the territory you have seen some of the arrests between Customs and ourselves in that regard,” the top cop said.
“So, that’s the next step forward for them. This additional capability we believe will bring greater results and greater safety to the territory.”
During the animals’ four-month training period in the territory, police “had a lot of successes in terms of the capture of illicit drugs and firearms”, Matthews added.
One of three police dogs and its handle in action at the Road Town Police Station.
Governor Augustus Jaspert, who has responsibility for police, presented each member of the team with certificates at Wednesday’s relaunch.
He went on to underscored the importance of improving the territory’s national security.
“All of this is part of our security plan where we are making sure that we improve border security, improve the security within the territory, and improve joint operations across agencies with Customs and Immigration.”
He continued: “I look forward to seeing the dogs out on operation across the territory.”
Government pumped $150,000 into the RVIPF to have its K9 Unit reinstituted.
The canines were sourced in the United States and trained alongside local officers by former law enforcement officers Paris Nicholson and Pipkin Chuck from a US-based compnay called K9 on Patrol Security.
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Can you train them to teach people to drive as well and wear helmets??!
Its the small problems that turn into the big problems and I see very few police out there tackling these.
And another attempt to p**s off the visitors. Keep up the good work of keeping the visitors away. In case the government hasn’t heard there are other islands in the Caribbean
No need to train dogs to sniff out cash.
Just use politicians instead.
AN THE GOVERNMENT AFFORD TO FEED THEM? IF YES, FOR HOW LONG?
I would be uncomfortable around those dogs, with my $5.00.
This is how NDP will fill the Treasury! They got Cash Dogs on the prowl! LOL!
?Y they didnot include customs in the training ?they all n the same gov.protectoroff the bvi.u given money away by not used the tool.
What the officer name ? Officer SPARE TIRE ?
He needs to get in shape ; gone are the days of “T—- and S—–”
Lets get our officers trained and trim to compliment our K 9 Officers
The Customs Dept uses the same professional company to source and train their K9 units.
People always find time to post negative nonsense instead of supporting the movement. I am happy to hear that the dogs can sniff out guns and ammo cause trust me there’s too many on this small islsnd…and I am sure some were already used to kill our people. So come on RVIPF let’s get those guns off the streets
Whos first to have their car key handled over some spare change? Or be endangered/embarrased in front of their family.
Train the dogs to smell for illegal drugs and guns, not to have regular people searched for their legal money.
FAT POLICEMEN