history of virginia state police k-9 unit?
my father was one of the first six state troopers to start the k-9 program. i want to know how much history is in the state police muesum. i have alot of pictures. my father was v.w. hinton and his police dog was named “rex”
As the K-9 units have been a significant part of the Virginia State Police’s history, I am sure the museum at State Police Headquarters in Richmond would have at least an exhibit dedicated to the program.
Also, last fall I recall hearing about an exhibit focusing on the State Police at the Museum of Culpeper History, but I’m not sure if they are still hosting that exhibit.
To Turandot, you obviously have no understanding of how police K-9 units operate. The dogs are with their assigned officers practically 24/7. The dogs live with the officer and become a member of the officer’s family. NO officer would view his or her K-9 PARTNER as an “expendable commodity,” anymore than he/she would view a human partner as an “expendable commodity.” The officers are NOT willing to “sacrafice the pet at command.” The loss of a K-9 partner deeply affects the officer, and members of his/her family who have also developed an attachment to the K-9.
If you think officers are willing to “sacrafice” their partners, you’ve been watching too many movies/TV shows. In fact, many, if not most, police K-9s are used in search and rescue efforts and drug detection. K-9s are used because of their unique talents, particularly their keen sense of smell, to assist with jobs that carry a significant amount of risk – to both human and K-9 officers.
In fact, in Virginia, a 9 year-old girl started a charity whose sole purpose was to provide bulletproof vests, and other safety equipment, to K-9 officers. This effort has been embraced by K-9 officers, who want to ensure their partners’ safety even with limited tax dollars available within their police departments.
Bad Ass Police Dog
