Sausage dog crimefighters: SA Police unveil ‘small dog squad’ for searches, drone operation drops

Police have launched a new “small dog squad” – perfect for fitting in narrow spaces during drug operations, or attaching to drones for airborne deployment.

They might be small, but these three new police dogs make up for that in sheer determination.

The specialist search dogs – Tex, Snoop and Gracie – are the future of SAPOL’s dog operations unit with senior police moving to thwart new concealment techniques being used by criminals.

Covertly trained over the past three months, the three purebred Dachshunds will be primarily used to search small spaces and access areas such as airconditioning vents and ducts, that traditional police German Shepherds weighing around 40kg cannot.

The new “Small Area Urban Search And Guided Evacuation” squad was announced today, April 1.

In an Australia-first move, police also plan to use them in special drug and surveillance operations. They will be attached to police drones via harnesses, enabling rapid deployment to isolated marijuana crop sites or to search boats both at sea or on the River Murray.

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said police were encountering more criminals “trying to use more stealth’’ in where they try to hide contraband in hard to access small areas, requiring police to spend significant resources removing or shifting heavy items.

Tex, Snoop and Gracie are deployed and ready for action from today, April 1.

SA Police’s small dogs can be attached to drones for special operations.

More criminals were also secreting themselves when being pursued by police – particularly on rooftops or in ceilings and hiding suspicious items under lowered motor vehicles.

“This new initiative is to introduce lightweight, highly trained and determined PDs who can bring a whole new capability to searching commensurate with those criminals who will stop at nothing to prevent police locating illegal items or criminals themselves,’’ he said.

Mr Stevens said the latest innovation was “a big step forward in thinking outside the square to place police on an equal footing with criminals’’.

“I must admit I was a little sceptical when I was first approached to consider this initiative but then when I saw the actual capabilities of these new recruits I was absolutely sold,’’ he said.

“What incredible animals with amazing skills and determination for such a small dog.’’

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens with his dog Gracie, a member of the SAUSAGE Squad.

Who knows what other groundbreaking initiatives SA Police will unveil on April Fool’s Day next year ...

In breaking news at lunchtime on April Fool’s Day, Commissioner Stevens advised that the new squad is not really being introduced – but has not been completely ruled out.

“Who knows, maybe this concept might actually work some time in the future,’’ he said wryly.

He thanked those who provided positive comments and reassured the public that no dachshund was actually attached to a drone in preparation for today’s April Fool’s prank.