Auburn Police Department K9

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Because dogs have such a superior sense of smell, a K9’s primary role in Law Enforcement is as a searching tool. When officers need help locating a suspect, narcotics, evidence, firearms, or even explosives they will use a K9. Most importantly K9's are often times used to locate missing children, missing elderly persons, or persons with disabilities who have wondered off. The media likes to portray Police K9s as “attack dogs,” but in reality, an apprehension where a K9 bites a suspect occurs less often than people realize.

Currently the Auburn Police Department K9 Unit consists of one handler, Officer David Ljunggren and his K9 partner Biza. Biza is a female German bred German Shepherd currently used as a dual-purpose patrol dog. 

The K9 Unit is a part of the Auburn Police Department Patrol Division. The K9 Unit’s primary objective is to perform basic police related functions, such as answering calls for service, while supplementing the Patrol and Detective Divisions with K9 applications.

The K9 Unit’s secondary objective is community policing oriented. Officer Ljunggren and Biza educate the public about the police department’s mission, the K9’s specific function within the department, and general safety. This is done through lectures and demonstrations both in and out of the community.