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The Police K-9 Unit of the Special Operations Command (SOC) commemorated its 70th Anniversary on 3 November 2025 with a ceremonial parade at its headquarters located at 2 Mowbray Road. The Commissioner of Police (CP) Hoong Wee Teck was the Guest-of-Honour and reviewed the parade, which was attended by the unit's strategic partners, including the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), Singapore Prison Service (SPS), Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS).

During the celebration, the Police K-9 Unit unveiled its 70th Anniversary mosaic artwork, commemorating seven decades of partnership between K-9 officers and their service dogs. Each tile represents the enduring values of courage, loyalty and service, coming together as a unified tribute to the dedication and professionalism that define the unit’s legacy through the years.

Background of the Police K-9 Unit

The origins of the Police K-9 Unit date back to 1955, when Chief Inspector Frank C. Pestana brought back five German Shepherds from the United Kingdom, marking the beginning of canine operations for the Singapore Police Force.

Since 1992, the Police K-9 Unit has operated as part of SOC. The unit was renamed from the Police Dog Unit as the Police K-9 Unit in 2003. The unit provides essential support to frontline police operations and complements tactical operations, working alongside the SOC’s Police Tactical Unit (PTU) and the Gurkha Contingent (GC).

Over the past 70 years, the unit has continually expanded its capabilities to meet evolving security needs. Key developments include the integration of the Customs Dog Unit with the Narcotic Detection Dog Team to enhance border security, the establishment of the Explosive Detection Dog programme and the introduction of additional capabilities such as the Victim Recovery Dog (2006), Trailing Dog (2010), Public Order Dog (2017) and Public Security Dog (2019)

Ceremonial Parade

Today's ceremonial parade featured more than 50 officers from the Police K-9 Unit, PTU, GC and SCDF, showcasing the Police K-9 Unit's operational readiness and its strong partnerships to safeguard Singapore.

The event marked a significant milestone, celebrating the unit’s legacy and achievements over the decades. The theme of the event, "Commemorating the Past and Transforming for the Future”, underscores the Police K-9 Unit’s commitment to honouring its heritage while continually innovating to meet evolving security challenges.

The event concluded with a cake-cutting ceremony, with one cake for the guests and another specially prepared for the dogs.

Photo of CP Hoong Wee Teck inspecting the parade



Group photo of CP Hoong Wee Teck, Commander SOC, SAC Arthur Law, and officers from the various Police units



Photo of CP Hoong Wee Teck unveiling the mosaic artwork



Photo of CP Hoong Wee Teck feeding a K-9 dog after the cake-cutting ceremony