The Police Department welcomes an additional weapon against crime. Roseville’s newest K-9 Sieger and his handler Police Officer Brooke Jennings are on the job.
They recently completed an intensive three months of training at the St. Paul Police K-9 School.
The rigorous training taught police officers how to work with their Police Service Dogs. Training included obedience, agility, tracking, article searches, muzzle work and apprehension. Officers trained outdoors every day, regardless of weather conditions or temperature. Officer Jennings described the training as “very challenging.”
Sieger is an all black German shepherd dog. He was donated to the City and comes from the Czech Republic. He is about 16 months old and has been living with Officer Jennings since February.
To become a police dog team, dogs and their handlers must meet stringent standards set by the United States Police Canine Association. Officers receive ongoing training to learn new and hone existing skills. Officer Jennings and Sieger will receive narcotics training in the fall.
Jennings has been on the Roseville Police since September 2005. The Roseville Canine Unit began in 1976. The goal of the K9 unit is to make police work safer and more efficient for officers who patrol the streets. Roseville Police currently have two other trained police dogs, Tasco, who works with Officer Tom Gray, and Velo, who works with Officer Brady Martin.
Officer Jennings and Sieger graduated from training on May 26. “Sieger is a very hard working dog, we look forward to serving the citizens of Roseville,” said Jennings.