K-9 memorial set up to honour police dogs

KUALA LUMPUR: The police have honoured their four-legged comrades by setting up the first ever memorial for their loyal canines to commemorate the K-9 unit’s 50th anniversary.

Comm Datuk Seri Wan Ahmad Najmuddin Mohd said it was only fitting that a memorial was put up to mark the golden jubilee.

“The unit’s contribution, particularly the various dogs in its ranks, is priceless.

“This memorial is a long time coming and the unit deserves it.

“It is the brainchild of Pahang police chief Comm Datuk Mohd Zakaria Ahmad, who wanted to honour the sacrifices of the unit,” said the Bukit Aman CID director.

The unit, he added, would also be bolstered with an additional 75 dogs.

It currently has 94 tracker dogs, 171 police personnel and 56 vehicles.

Honouring their sacrifices: Dogs from the K-9 unit standing in line after receiving their medals from Comm Wan Ahmad Najmuddin at the launch of the memorial.

“The unit will get an extra 75 dogs to replace the ones that have died, are sick or being rested,” he said in his speech before launching the K-9 Memorial at the Police Training Centre (Pulapol) yesterday.

The memorial bears the names of present and past dogs of the unit.

Since its inception in 1968, the unit has had some 569 dogs, said Comm Wan Ahmad Najmuddin.

Unsung heroes: Police personnel taking a closer look at the K-9 memorial at the Police Training Centre in Jalan Semarak, Kuala Lumpur.

The dogs play multiple crucial roles in the police force, including tracking drugs, dead bodies as well as helping to solve other crimes nationwide, he added.

Comm Wan Ahmad Najmuddin said he personally paid tribute to a dog from the K-9 unit in Johor when he was then state police chief.

“I presented the dog with the ‘Jasamu Dikenang’ medal as he was instrumental in leading the police to catch the Geng Kapak robbery gang in 2016,” he said.