SDSU Police Department
K-9 Unit
The San Diego State University Police Department K-9 Unit was established in 2006 with one police service dog, Nemo, and a handler serving as the first K-9 Team. Nemo was purchased through a generous grant from the SDSU Aztec Parent’s Foundation. He is a five-year-old German Shepherd and was purchased from and trained at the Adlerhorst Police K-9 Academy in Riverside, California. Nemo, and his handler Cpl. Svec, are certified for patrol operations and in narcotics detection.
In 2009 the SDSU Police Department was pleased to announce the addition of a second police K-9 team. This fall, Cpl. Tulloch and her new K-9 partne,r Brico, will be joining the SDSU Police Department’s K-9 Unit.
Brico is a three-and-a-half year old Belgian Malinois from Europe who, along with Cpl. Tulloch, recently completed the six-week Basic Police K-9 Academy. Cpl. Tulloch and Brico will be cross trained for patrol duties and explosives detection, as SDSU routinely hosts high profile events including visits by political figures, major sporting events, and conferences which require the use of K-9 Teams like Cpl. Tulloch and Brico.
Through the generosity of the Gary and Mary West Foundation through the San Diego Police Foundation, the SDSU Police Department received funding which allowed for the purchase of Brico, a specially equipped police patrol vehicle, and training and equipment for the new K-9 Team.
The two teams of the K9 Unit are each comprised of an officer-handler and the police service dog. Both of the dogs were born, raised and trained in Europe before being brought to the United States. Once a dog is selected for police patrol use, the dog and their assigned handler undergo a six-week training program before being certified for patrol work. After the dogs have proven their patrol skills, they are evaluated for additional cross-training for narcotic detection or explosive detection.
Off duty, police service dogs live with their respective handlers, becoming an integral part of those families. Contrary to popular belief, police service dogs are selected, in large part, based on their sociability, intelligence and courage. The obedience and desire to please their handler are the foundation of a reliable police service dog.
The goal of the SDSU Police K-9 program is to enhance the effectiveness of our police officers in searching for and apprehending violent criminals, locating evidence, narcotics and explosive devices. SDSU’s K-9 teams train with other agencies within San Diego County and provide K-9 support to local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.
Nemo and Brico also provide an important community outreach function as the K-9 teams demonstrate their professionalism to community groups throughout the year.
The SDSU Police Department is grateful to both the SDSU Aztec Parent’s Foundation and the San Diego Police Foundation for funding and helping expand the size and capabilities of the police department’s K-9 Unit.
This page last updated September 9, 2009
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