by Quinton Alomp – EM TV News, Port Moresby
The 2015 Pacific Games has concluded successfully, but has brought to light many challenges that need to be addressed.
Among them is the need to modernise the police dog unit.
This specialised unit within the constabulary has outstanding records in Port Moresby, but the Pacific Games has taught them lessons that need attention, by the police management and the Government.
The dog unit need an additional fifteen, fully vaccinated German Shepherd dogs, for general duties and three more Labrador sniffer dogs for explosive and firearms sniffing.
The run down administration office and the broken wires at the dog’s kennels at the Bomana base camp need to be improved immediately. And, more officers are needed as dog handlers.
With the Pacific Games operations, the unit has realised that vehicle have been their major challenge. No proper vehicle to accommodate dogs on duty. Continuous use of same vehicles by officers on shift duties has resulted in two of their vehicles grounded in workshop yesterday.
NCD Dog Unit Commander, Leuth Nidung, said the government and the police hierarchy need to address these issue, to improve its performance for the near future.
Before the next international sporting event next year, the FIFA under 23 world cup for women, the government needs to modernise the Dog Unity, to be on par with international standards.
A fully vaccinated German shepherd pup in Australia would cost approximately K20,000.
Currently, the NCD Dog Unity has 15 German Shepherds and only one Labrador breed.
Commander Nidung is appealing for government to address their concerns immediately.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=IjdFltGzXIY%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
