Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-19
Dog Patrols to Join Fight on Crime
Mclaughlin Sees
Need Here After
Baltimore Tour
BY CHARLES d. PIERCE
star star Writer

star stan Writer
BALTIMORE, Sept. 19.-Po-
lice dogs, trained to leap and
snap II necessary, will be sicked
on those responsible for WASH
ington's mounting crime rate.
Commissioner Robert E. Nc
Laughlin and Police Chief
Robert v. Murray reached q
final decision here yesterday
in favor of using these dogs in
the District.
They did so after checking
on operations Of the famed Bal
timore police canine corps.
Mr.. Mclaughlin said that he
would submit q recommended
ton to the Board of Commits
sioners that a police dog squad
be formed as soon as Com
missioner David B. Karrick re-
turns from his present tour of
Europe.
The other two Commissioners
normally approve recommended
tons by Commissioner Nc
Laughlin in police matters.
since these affairs come under
his direct jurisdiction.
Meanwhile, Mr.. Mclaughlin
asked District residents to fol-
low the example of the people
of Baltimore and volunteer dogs
for service in this proposed new
rime-fighting unit. He re-
quested male German shepherds
between and 3 years old.
Work on Leash
"All we need now" he said,
sis q trainer and some dogs"
The Commissioner and Chief
Murray stressed that dogs used
in Washington will be kept on
q tight leash except when re-
leased to pursue a fleeing GRIM
inal.
Baltimore Police Inspector
Leo T. Kelly told Chief Murray
and Mr.. Mclaughlin that these
four-footed patrolmen have
been so helpful in reducing the
city's crime rate that I'VE want
to increase the number of our
dogs from the present 40 to at
least 100"
He said that in the first six
months of this year the overall
crime rate in Baltimore declined
by 6.7 per cent from the COM
parable period in 1858.
The Baltimore canine corps
was formed in 1856 and is being
steadily expanded.
Inspector Kelly and 1t. John
Biemiller. commander of the
Baltimore dog unit, took the
District officials on a tour Of
the training program provided
for the animals.
They saw German shepherds
taking a 14;week course at
Gwynns Falls Park under the
direction of Patrick Cahill, a
retired London bobby who used
to instruct English police dogs.
Attack on Thug"
One of the star pupils. an
animal named Fritz, was re-
leased by his master and told
to attack a thug" wearing a
padded suit.
Snarling savagely, Fritz raced
toward the criminal" who was
firing blanks from a pistol
aimed at the dog. Fritz sank
his teeth into the thugs" spe-
ciaIly protected right forearm.
Although the criminal"
cuffed him several times on the
head with his free arm, the
German shepherd held on with
q grip that would have made
q bulldog growl with jealousy.
Only when his trainer gave
the order did Fritz release the
thug"
Mr.. Cahill said that about
one in seven dogs f1unks out OF !
this course because he is gun !
shy, wants to fight with other
dogs or for some other reason. !
He added that many dogs
offered to the police depart
ment are rejected before they !
ever start the training course
because they cannot pass the
physical examination.
A female German shepherd
was once enrolled for the
course, Mr.. CahiIl said, but she
proved too distracting for the
boys" in her class and was
sent home.
Even Climb Ladders
The dogs are trained in this
school to scale obstacles 6 feet
high, to climb ladders and to
jump through windows. After
graduation. they come back
every three weeks for a two
day refresher course.
Two of the seven dogs now !
being schooled had been sent
to Baltimore by the Rochester
IN. " Police Department for
training.
Inspector Kelly said that
each police dog costs the city
Of Baltimore about 5000 year
for food and care by a veteri-
marian.
The dogs stay in the home
of the policeman to whom they
are assigned. Only patrolmen
who volunteer are given dogs
and they receive 81 a day extra
for this duty.
Inspector Kelly explained that
this additional compensation is