Reinforcements: SIPA trains shepherd dogs for counter-terrorism

Considering the jurisdiction of the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) and work priorities, with a special emphasis on the fight against terrorism and organized crime, SIPA management is determined to strengthen the Agency's capacities, so that in accordance with current trends, it can respond to all tasks and security challenges in the future, it was announced from this institution.

 In this context, in accordance with the new Rulebook on the Internal Organization of SIPA, the conditions have been created for the work of police officers - dog handlers within the Support Department of the Special Support Unit of SIPA.

In line with the best European practices, SIPA has acquired three young Belgian Malinois shepherd dogs of top pedigree, four months old, who will be trained as service dogs. It is planned that two dogs will be trained as dual-purpose police dogs, one of which will be trained for attack and explosive detection, and the other for attack and drug detection, while the third will be trained as a counter-terrorism dog – SIPA stated.

The socialization and habituation phase of the dogs is currently underway, followed by basic obedience training, and then training in police tactics. In accordance with the training plan, it is envisaged that the dogs will become operational at 18 months of age. SIPA police officers, dog handlers, with the help of eminent experts for service dogs from partner agencies in Bosnia and Herzegovina, invest a lot of effort, patience, and love daily in training and exercising the dogs, spending 24 hours a day with them.

Service dogs are being trained to support the police officers of the Special Support Unit in the fight against the most complex forms of crime in the future and to increase the operational power of this elite and highly professional unit.