K-9 Unit

Police dogs are one of the most effective and diverse tools used in policing – and some of the community’s favorite ‘officers’. The K-9 unit consists of two police dogs and their handlers who assist in the search and rescue of missing people, tracking and locating criminal suspects, and searching for discarded evidence or clues. By using the dogs’ keen sense of smell, we are able to reduce the number of officers needed for a search, perform more thorough searches, and help keep our officers and the community safe during the apprehension of dangerous suspects. The K-9 teams undergo extensive training through the Oregon Police Canine Association, including 400 training hours over the course of 10 weeks. 

The role of K-9 teams is multifaceted, including both law enforcement activities and public education. K-9 teams increase suspect apprehensions with their tracking ability, and can also defuse a stressful situation with their mere presence. The K-9 teams are busy protecting Lake Oswego and providing assistance to neighboring law enforcement agencies.

We recently obtained a new K-9, "Shadow", and we'll have information about him soon!