K-9 Unit Job Description

K-9 Unit Job Description thumbnail
A K-9 unit officer uses dogs to help solve crimes.

A K-9 unit police officer uses dogs (or canines) to assist in solving a crime. K-9 unit officers search for suspects who are attempting to hide, as well as for bombs and illegal drugs. K-9 unit officers have to spend time as uniformed officers before being paired with a dog.

  1. Basics

    • K-9 unit police officers have to watch for crime and care for the dogs who assist them. They also have to know how to handle the dogs in stressful situations that often result from sniffing out crime.

    Skills

    • K-9 unit police officers must be composed, confident, alert and motivated. They should possess a high amount of integrity, as well as strong communication skills. Almost all need physical strength and stamina as well.

    Education

    • Level of education to become a K-9 unit officer varies by police station. Most officers need a high school diploma and at least a few years of college, while others need a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.

    Prospects

    • Jobs for police officers in general are expected to grow by 10 percent through 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

    Earnings

    • Police officers earned a median annual salary of $51,410 in May 2008, the BLS reported.

Related Searches:

References

Comments

You May Also Like

Related Ads

Featured