Police Dogs recognised for their work in the line of duty

• The inaugural Queensland Police Service (QPS) Canine Service Medal ceremony has been held in Brisbane.
• Police Minister Mark Ryan and Commissioner Steve Gollschewski attended the ceremony to recognise the integral work Police Dogs (PDs) do in the line of duty.
• To be eligible for the honour, PD recipients must have served in the QPS for a minimum of five years.

About 40 Queensland Police Service (QPS) Police Dogs have been recognised for their role keeping the community safe, after receiving the QPS Canine Service Medal today.

The general-purpose PDs and their handlers play an important operational role in the QPS, 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 their medallions.

The QPS Dog Squad has grown considerably in strength and size since it officially began in December 1972, and nowadays PDs are an integral part of frontline policing.

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.

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 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.

Quotes attributable to Police Minister Mark Ryan:

“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.

“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.”

Quotes attributable to Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski:

“The Dog Squad is a remarkable capability that delivers outstanding operational success right across Queensland to keep our community safe.

“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.”

Quotes attributable to Acting Inspector Sean Baxendell:

“Working Police Dogs are extremely driven and hard-working animals, and they and their handlers prove time and time again that they are an asset to frontline policing.

“They are very deserving of this recognition, and we are proud to deliver highly trained and competent dogs that have had countless successful tracks and arrests over the years.”

Quotes attributable to Senior Constable Jim Griffiths:

“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.

“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.”

Quotes attributable to Queensland Police Union President Ian Leavers:

“People know the special bond that exists with their animals and it is exactly the same for our beloved working dogs and horses in the service. They have an invaluable role in keeping our community safe and their loyalty, bravery and sacrifice ought to be recognised.

“I acknowledge the work of Sergeant Shayne Treasure who has assisted us to develop the Police Dog meritorious service award and thank all the officers who work tirelessly to make the Queensland Police Service Dog Squad the best in the country.”

ENDS