Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-08-07
RECRUITS

SAy\1\04 ~ ~
II you had heard of an old world
European city which was sufficiently
up to date to employ dogs as po-
1icemen, and kept veterinary surgeons
at headquarters to look after them,
together with special officers to train
them by means of dummy burglars
and pickpockets, you might we'll be
surprised. Yet this system has been
in use for years in the picturesque
old city of Client, in Belgium; and so
successful have these four-legged Of
f1cers become that the idea of dog
policemen is finding favor all over
Belgium as we'll as in France, and in
more than $50 German municipalities
besides.
Indeed, the Prussian minister of the
interior recently sent Herr Laufer,
police commissioner at Schwelm, on a
special mission to Client to interview
M. E. Van Wesemael, police chief Of
that city, to whom belongs the credit
of having been the first to initiate
NOo POAANCAACA III IIOA OpC
l called upon NJ Van Wesemael
that I might learn from the very foun.
tain-head the whole story of these
wonderful dogs, who have not only
been eminently successful as night
"cops," but have saved the municipali-
ty many thousands of francs a year.
On the Anglo-Spanish frontier at Gi-
bralter and elsewhere dogs are used
as smugglers; they retrieve game for
sportsmen with wonderful sagacity;
they lead the blind; rescue wayfarers
on the famous st. Bernard, in Switzer-
land, and are used in the German
army to find the wounded on battle
field and carry medicines to them.
Therefore, argued the Client chief
OF police, why not provide our night
patrolmen with four-legged colleagues
who could beat round in waste places,
act as scouts, pursue pickpockets fast
er than any two-legged officer, and
generally give their human colleague
sense of security and protection ?
Moreover, look at the idea from the
1~AAAI VI AAAO ArN1OAdNlOl, YOU Will
see how the dog-policemen positively
prevent crimes which might other
wise be committed. 1t is possible
enough on dark night to elude an
ordinary policeman, but big, power
full Belgian sheepdog, with more
tricks in his repertory than first
class juggler-that is very different
matter
In 1899, the city of Client, in which
night-watches of the police have been
thoroughly organized ever since 1854,
resolved upon an increase of the
force. Belgium is poor country,
and the city's budget was exhaust
ed. Thereupon arose M. Van Wese-
mael, and suggested seriously enough
that, if the city couldn't afford men,
perhaps it could afford dogs.
The city fathers resolved to try the
experiment, at any rate; and in
March, 1899, the "chiens-policiers"
were tried in small way. They were
particularly wanted for the outskirts
of the town, which were notorious
for violent robberies and no arrests.
Naturally enough, the police avoided
these places, where, alone and far
from help, they were supposed to
deal with bands Of armed thugs.
Here are some of the regulations
specially laid down by M. Van Wese.
mael: "The police-dogs will be taken
out the moment the night-call rings,
and led back into their kennels at the
morning call, always held in leash.
This last will always be held short,
SO as to prevent the dogs from attack
ing passers-by. Arrived on their beat.
the night police will let loose their
dogs, that they may act as scouts, and
grow accustomed to visiting outlying
houses and farms and isolated quar-
tiers where prowling criminals may
hide. The dogs will always remain
muzzled during duty. If they give no.
tice by barks or growls that they have
found something unusual, the men
will hasten to rejoin them, and re-
move their muzzle, which may be
readily done.
THE men will not permit anyone
to coax or caress the dogs, that they
may be accustomed only to obey Of
ficers in uniform. The animals must
always be treated with gentleness, but
never petted except by way of reward
for good service rendered. In speak
ing to the dogs a tone of sharp com.