Seven police officers graduated yesterday with their four-legged companions from the detector dog course at the Fiji Police Dog Unit at Nasova in Suva.
The program and graduation was made possible through a joint collaboration between the New Zealand Police and the Fiji Police K9.
Acting Deputy Commissioner Sakeo Raikaci said the relationship between the two enforcement agencies was more than a partnership and that “we are a family”.
“A family that has achieved a great deal working together for many decades in protecting our people and the region,” ACP Raikaci said.
“The New Zealand police has been working with the Fiji Police Force since the 1970s through various training and capacity development initiatives. Our police officers have undergone training at the New Zealand Police Training centre at Trentham in Wellington, and the provisions of K9s over the years.
“The partnership was further boosted under the Duavata Partnership signed in March 2022 between our two countries.”
Mr Raikaci said the Fiji Police Dog Unit had grown its strength, largely because of the support from regional and international partners.
New Zealand Police senior Pacific liaison officer Glyn Rowlands said they recognised Fiji as the hope of Pacific policing.
“I commend the officers here that have dedicated themselves to leave their families and go to New Zealand and do training as well as training back here in Fiji.
“I’m proud of the partnership that we have with the Fiji police and it’s special. It’s been built over many, many decades. I see it as my responsibility to continue that relationship.”
Three of the seven officers will be stationed in the Western Division with their dogs while the remaining four will be stationed in Suva.
