Not during my tenure, although the sheriff's department did and we made use of that a couple of times. I believe Grand Rapids has a dog now. Like anything else, if you don't have it, you do without and if you get it, you put it to use. Bicycles are new and several regular officers are using them and I think that is great. I did my work on foot and always walked in the front of buildings, but went out the back.
People doing things are usually in the back, and usually in the dark.
One time I was checking an alley at night and there on a 20-below night was a car parked, the hood still warm. Up ahead a ways was a fellow taking a carburetor out of a car. I walked right up and leaned on the fender, ignoring another guy who was there staring at me open-mouthed while the other kept working on the carburetor. He asked for a screwdriver and I handed him one. When I checked out their car, they had beer.