Protecting the protectors

Police’s patrol dogs will get a new degree of protection with the rollout of a stab-resistant multi-purpose harness.

The ‘Mako’ harness features two layered polymer panels to shield the vital organs from stabbing and slashing, while the robust overall design, in tough Cordura fabric, offers protection from the more usual hazard of blows and kicks.

The protection is comparable to that provided by officers’ SRBA.

The design includes Velcro and loops for attachments – for example a light or GPS unit. A camera attachment is being looked at.

Sturdy handles fore and aft and strong buckles ensure the dog can be lifted or winched, easily and safely.

The harness weighs just under one kilo, is designed to not impair agility and speed, dries quickly and can be worn throughout a shift.

It was trialled on eight dogs in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch and on two AOS courses.

The rollout is due to start around July, with all 130 patrol dogs kitted out by around October. A new harness for detector dogs is under consideration.

The harness is not bullet proof – and even with ballistic armour, it is unlikely a harness could have saved shooting victims Gazza and Gage.

“A dog’s greatest protection is its speed and agility,” says Wellington Dog Section head Senior Sergeant Mark Davidson, who drove the project. “Ballistic armour capable of stopping a shot would seriously affect mobility.”

However, he says, the harness offers “100 percent more physical protection than dogs have at the moment”.

Mark approached Inspector Todd Southall to suggest a new harness soon after Todd became National Coordinator Police Dogs last year. “It’s good to have a boss who says ‘Go ahead and do it’,” he says.

Mark, and Defence Force counterparts who were also seeking a new harness, considered designs used overseas but none met their needs.

The work went out to tender, which was won by Hamilton-based specialist Sabre Tactical NZ. The harness will be manufactured in New Zealand.

Tests found ten layers of the polymer would stop stabbing penetration but the material is so light that it was decided to opt for 23.

Todd says the current dog harness was due for an overhaul. “The harnesses we have now are pretty much unchanged since the start of the dog section.

“We’re living in different times and it was important to look at developing a multi-purpose harness that offers protection.”

He says ballistic armour might be an option in some circumstances, but would not suit routine work.

“We’re a dog-loving country and everyone wants our dogs to be safe. But not everyone sees what our business really is - it’s about tracking, jumping fences and mobility.

“The welfare of our dogs is paramount. We don’t use them as cannon fodder - and it’s important to remember that standing immediately behind every dog is its handler.”

See www.youtube.com/policenz for a video of patrol dog Ike and the harness in action..

Thanks to our models: patrol dog Ike, and patrol dog wannabes Kuba and Loki.

This is a story from the June issue of the Police magazine Ten One, available next week.

Photos: Stephen Matthews, Ten One/NZ Police