K9 Unit

The Evansville Police Department K-9 program is a volunteer program, and officers face a tough screening process to become members of this select group. K-9 officers and their families understand that assignment to the unit involves commitment–caring for the dog and spending many hours away from home conducting training exercises.

The Evansville Police Dept. K9 program began in 1982 with four single purpose (Patrol) German Shepherds. These dogs were assigned to Motor Patrol for general patrol duties.  Single Purpose canines, perform one specific task, and Dual-Purpose provide two functions, such as Narcotics Detection and Patrol work in one dog. Since then, we have expanded the EPD K9 Unit to ten dogs.  Seven are Dual Purpose Patrol/Narcotic German Shepherd Canines (These work Citywide-assisting Patrol.); two dogs, one Shepherd and one Labrador Retriever, which are only Narcotics Detection, and one Labrador that works as an Explosives-Detector dog.

The Evansville Police Dept. K9 program began in 1982 with four single purpose (Patrol) German Shepherds. These dogs were assigned to Motor Patrol for general patrol duties.  Single Purpose canines, perform one specific task, and Dual-Purpose provide two functions, such as Narcotics Detection and Patrol work in one dog. Since then, we have expanded the EPD K9 Unit to ten dogs.  Seven are Dual Purpose Patrol/Narcotic German Shepherd Canines (These work Citywide-assisting Patrol.); two dogs, one Shepherd and one Labrador Retriever, which are only Narcotics Detection, and one Labrador that works as an Explosives-Detector dog