Laguna Beach Police Department officials announced the newest addition to their team: a 52-pound officer who goes by the name “Bear.”
The 2-year-old Belgian Malinois will be assigned to one of the department’s two four-legged squads.
“The new K-9 Teams are a valuable asset,” Laguna Beach Mayor Bob Whalen told The Epoch Times. ”They add another dimension to our police work and … promote positive interactions with our officers at our schools and in the broader community.”
Bear’s handler Cpl. Priscilla Angeloni met her new partner on Jan. 13 prior to embarking on tactical and criminal apprehension lessons at a K-9 training facility in Riverside County.
Bear’s breed is a common choice for police departments due to their smaller sizes, high energy levels, calmness under pressure, and trainability.
“[They] are the super athlete of a canine world,” Laguna Beach Police Department spokesperson Lt. Cornelius Ashton said. “Their relentless drive to work, endurance, and athletic ability make them the ideal dog for law enforcement.”
While in training, Bear will also undergo courses in missing people searches along with drug detection classes for the next five weeks.
Such trained dogs have millions more scent receptors enabling them to sniff out hidden suspects or narcotics that a human can’t.
They also disincentivize the bad guys.
“Their mere presence alone is also a deterrent for a suspect that is considering harming an officer or citizen,” Ashton said.
