FCPD Canine Operations Unit: The Sons and Daughters of McGruff

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Fairfax, VA— The FCPD’s Canine Operations Unit (K9) of our Special Operations Division has been a critical part of the department for over 50 years. Established in response to the increasing need for specialized skills in crime prevention, detection, and tracking of missing or fleeing persons, this unit has been an invaluable resource to the operations of patrol.

The FCPD uses Canine teams to mitigate risk and support police operations in the detection and prevention of crime. The Police Service Dogs (PSD) possess superior senses of smell, hearing, and physical capabilities, and are used to search for pieces of evidence, missing or fleeing individuals, and controlled substances.

The unit is made up of 15 full-time police officer handlers and 19 dogs who undergo extensive training. Basic patrol dog training is approximately 14 weeks followed by a 4-week detection course in narcotics or firearms. The unit then continues bi-weekly training for approximately 20 hours a month. Handlers are certified once a year in patrol, narcotics, and/or firearm detection.

Over the past five decades, the Canine Operations unit has proven its worth time and time again. These highly trained officers and canines have been involved in countless successful operations, playing a crucial role in our police department. Since early 2022, the Canine team has been deployed over 1,000 times with approximately 400 tracks for criminal suspects.

What are Patrol Dogs used for?

  • Warrant Service
  • High-Risk Traffic Stops
  • Narcotics Detection
  • Firearm Detection
  • Locating Missing/Endangered persons
  • Apprehension of Dangerous Criminals

What breed of dog does FCPD use?

The FCPD uses Belgian Malinois, German Shepherds, and Bloodhounds.

Do our dogs still detect marijuana?

Marijuana laws have significantly changed in recent years making it legal to possess for adults and civil penalties for violators. Therefore, all FCPD K9’s previously imprinted on marijuana are no longer allowed to conduct narcotic sniffs and some have been retrained to detect firearms.

The FCPD’s Canine Operation Unit remains one of the top Canine Operation programs in the state of Virginia. Our K-9 units assist multiple neighboring agencies on calls for service that meet our criteria for deployment. Interested in becoming a K9 officer? Start your career here.

For ongoing updates, please read our blog and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @FairfaxCountyPD.