GPS tracking for police search dogs

TUNED IN: Constable Mike Wakefield is pleased search and rescue dogs such as Thames are now being equipped with GPS trackers. PHOTO/FILE

The handler of Thames, the Masterton police dog that made national headlines when he disappeared in the Tararua Ranges, is welcoming the adoption of GPS tracking devices for all police search and rescue dogs.

Thames, a 4-year-old German shepherd, got lost during a training exercise and spent a week alone in the bush before being found by volunteers and police, near High Ridge on Mount Holdsworth.

Handler Constable Mike Wakefield says the GPS trackers are a good idea. He said they were in the process of being adopted by police when Thames went missing.

He said of Thames: "Hopefully now it provides us with the opportunity to locate him quicker and sooner if he were to go missing again. He loves being out in the bush but hopefully he's learnt his lesson."

The GPS devices also allowed search and rescue coordinators to identify areas dogs might have missed during a search, Mr Wakefield said.

"They are a useful tool but you've got to use them in conjunction with other things. But hopefully it will give us greater success and it also provides an opportunity for incident management to see exactly where the dog has searched."

Information released by police showed the search for Thames cost about $11,400, which included $5700 spent on helicopter use.

A spokeswoman confirmed all police search and rescue dogs were now equipped with GPS after the conclusion of a trial, which started last year.

The GPS units had been under consideration for some time, the spokeswoman said.

"It allows police to track and record the areas covered by a dog during a search and rescue operation. This can reduce the man hours and manpower required during a search.

"It also allows police to locate our search and rescue dogs if they are missing."

It costs about $60,000 to train a police dog, not including ongoing costs such as food and upkeep.