San Francisco Police Dog Earns Star For Crime-Fighting Prowess
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - Normally it's not news when a San Francisco police officer gets a badge, except in this case Police Chief Greg Suhr had to reach almost to the floor to pin the star on the officer, a Springer Spaniel named Mack.
Since 2009, the 3-year-old pooch's nose for narcotics has led San Francisco police to nearly 500 pounds of marijuana, sizeable amounts of cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine, and nearly $4 million in drug money.
KCBS' Bob Melrose Reports:
By tradition, canine officers in the San Francisco Police Department normally get their stars the first time they lead officers to a suspect who gets arrested.
"They're also invaluable at locating the illicit currency that's seized from the luggage and other packages that come through the transportation and delivery services," said Capt. John Murphy with the narcotics division.
Officers at the ceremony Wednesday said Mack had more than earned star number 1408, the same badge as his handler, Officer Brett Elmore.
Since Elmore works undercover, he avoided the TV cameras while Chief Suhr seized the moment to recognize his narcotics team's success.
Capt. Murphy said the Police Department just acquired another canine officer who would also work on narcotics investigations.
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