18 Dec
Historical Event - Start of BPD K9 Unit
Today in Baltimore Police History 18 Dec 1956, the Baltimore Police K9 Unit was initiated - More than 60 years ago today, on 18 December 1956, thanks to an article was published in one of our local newspapers which were one of a series of articles written by one Martin Millspaugh pertaining to Scotland Yard. This article the last of a series was devoted to the use of police dogs in London. As a result of the letters and inquiries received by Commissioner James M. Hepbron, an article appeared in the Morning Sun on December 17, 1956, which briefly stated that Commissioner Hepbron was interested and saw the possibilities of using dogs in the Baltimore City Police Department. On December 18, 1956, two dogs (Turk & Major Gruntz) that had had previous training were offered to the Baltimore City Police Department and, with two officers (Patrolman Thomas McGinn and Irvan Marders) also with previous dog experience, the program was put into effect on an “experimental basis”. By the middle of January 1957, fourteen dogs had been acquired as potential candidates and fourteen men were selected and assigned to the K~9 Corps. These men were chosen as a result of a questionnaire which was sent to all members of the department asking for volunteers. These men and dogs were trained daily until March 1, 1957. At that time, they were put on the street on Friday and Saturday nights, working the areas where the crime was most prevalent. Shortly after this, actually on April 17, 1957,~ Commissioner Hepbron, considering the experiment a success, went before the Mayor and City Council and appropriations were made through the Board of Estimates which resulted in the K-9 Corps becoming a permanent part of the Baltimore City Police. For more info on Baltimore’s K9
Today in Baltimore Police history 18, December 1956 it was the start of what would become Baltimore’s K9 unit, and what would become the best K9 training program in the world.
On December 18, 1956, two dogs that had previously been in training were offered to the Baltimore Police Department, two officers also with previous dog experience joined in, and the program was put into effect on an experimental basis. By the middle of January 1957, fourteen dogs had been acquired as potential candidates, and fourteen men were selected and assigned to the K9 Corps. These men were chosen as a result of a questionnaire which was sent to all members of the department asking for volunteers. The men and dogs were trained daily until March 1, 1957. At that time, they were put on the streets to work Friday and Saturday nights, in areas where the crime was most prevalent. Shortly after this, actually on April 17, 1957,~ Commissioner Hepbron, considering the experiment a success, went before the Mayor and City Council where appropriations were made through the Board of Estimates, resulting in the K-9 Corps becoming a permanent part of our Police Department
So Turk and Major Grunts could be the most well know K9 Dogs in the department unless we go back to 1914, where instead of today's, German Sheppard's, we may have found two Airedale Terriers check out the following Article:
19 Dec 1948 -
Dog Policeman Killed on Duty - Four Footed Volunteer Struck by Car While on His Beat.
Some may be confused, K9 Dog Policeman Killed in the line of Duty, 1948, as we have all been told of our department not having a K9 unit until 11 Dec 1956. Kind of interesting as I have spoken to several old timers, Jim Mitchell one of my favorite, we became close friends pretty fast, and he once said, I know they say the K9 unit started at 1956, and I remember it being a big deal, I even remember one of the first times I heard a dog chasing a guy down and holding him on a wall until his handler caught up to him, the sound of his paws on the street running is a sound I won't forget, but I seem to remember police dogs before that too, I just don't know too much more about them.' Well, through some research the earliest I found our department associated with K9 dogs, was 1914 where we had use of two dogs, the report named one dog, as 'Luxe' short for Luxenberg… and the second dog as 'Morpheus' the two dogs were privately trained and handled. What follows is some of that information - 1914 - 'Luxe' and 'Morpheus' Baltimore’s first recorded K9 dogs -
A little-known fact, while not an official unit, Baltimore had two Police Dogs at their call when two Airedale Terriers from London came to enroll as members of the Police Force. Their owners learned two dogs were already here, privately owned, one belonging to Mr. Jere Wheelright, and the other to Dr. Henry Barton Jacobs. “Luxe”, Mr. Wheelright's dog was a superb example of a highly trained equine aristocrat, big, powerful and intelligent to a degree that was truly remarkable. Morpheus, Dr. Henry Barton Jacobs' dog also a superb example of a highly trained K9. It would be 42 years before we would have an official K9 Unit, but off and on from 1914, until 1956 we had, had Police Dogs used in both a private and official capacity. But not until 1956 did we establish an official unit, with an official methodology that would go on to become world known as the best K9 unit in the country, and then in the world.
By December Marshals Carter and House decided they should have their own K9 unit with-in the Baltimore Police department, as is found in the following news article dated 18 Sep 1914
TO TRY POLICE DOGS
The Sun (1837-1987); Sep 18, 1914; pg. 12
TO TRY POLICE DOGS
Department Here Will Use Belgian Hounds In Suburbs.
THEIR JOB TO CHASE CROOKS
Success In Other Cities Prompts Experiment Here For Detection and Protection,
Four Belgian hounds, trained to attack a burglar or murderer or to assist anyone who needs protection, will soon be doing police duty for the Baltimore Police Department in the suburban districts. At a meeting of the Police Board Wednesday it was decided to give the police dog a tryout in Baltimore and Marshal Carter and Deputy Marshal House were instructed to create a dog squad as an aid to policemen who work extensive posts.
As soon as the dogs are bought they will be placed in the custody of four-night policemen, who will care for them, being amply repaid for the care by the department.
While the board's action is one of an experiment it is believed that the dog squad will meet with favor and be an important adjunct of the police force.
The policemen who will have the dogs as aids will take them from their homes directly to their posts. Journeying with the policemen the dogs will work until 5 o'clock in the morning. The dogs will be taught to make detours around houses to detect possible marauders.
The record of police dogs in New York, Brooklyn and cities of the West is said to be a surprising one, many notable captures having been made by the animals. According to Marshal Carter and Deputy Marshal House, the Belgian hounds can be trained in criminal detection as well as in protective work. As a constant colleague of the patrolman and as a detective he is considered by police as invaluable.
'When the dogs are in regular police service,' declared Deputy Marshal House,
“They can be put on guard at the door of a house and no one will be permitted to pass in or out. If one is rash enough to try it, the dog will knock him down and sit on him. He does this by getting between the legs of the would-be fugitive and causing him to lose his balance and fall.'
Marshal Carter said last night that he would arrange immediately to get at least four dogs in the department within the next two weeks. It is expected that a Belgian bound will cost about $100. Marshal Carter was in Milwaukee several years ago and in looking over the police situation he learned of the work that the Belgian police dogs do there.
This is only one of the many new ideas that the Police Board has to better the police system. It is probable that within the next six months the department will Increase the dog squad.
1914-1916 - 'Luxe' and 'Morpheus' Baltimore’s first K9 dogs - A little-known fact, while not an official unit, Baltimore had two Police Dogs at their call when two Airedale Terriers from London came to enroll as members of the Police Force. Their owners learned two dogs were already here, privately owned, one belonging to Mr. Jere Wheelright, and the other to Dr. Henry Barton Jacobs. “Luxe”, Mr. Wheelright's dog was a superb example of a highly trained equine aristocrat, big, powerful and intelligent to a degree that was truly remarkable. It would be 42 years before we would have an 'Official' K9 Unit, but, off and on, since 1914, we had, had Police Dogs used in both a private and official capacity. Still, it wasn't until 1956 that we establish an official unit, with an official methodology that would go on to become world known as the best K9 unit in the country using a system known as the 'Baltimore System'.
Add to this information a dog we used in 1948 - Socolow McGee - 18 Dec 1948, 'McGee' as this dog was better known, was killed in the line of duty, while patrolling the Central District, he was struck by a car, that car rushed him to an emergency Veterinarian Hospital where he was pronounced dead. This based on a Sun Paper Article dated 19 Dec 1948 - But this my friends is not to say anything less of our current K9 unit, as with most units, in the department there were some start-up attempts, The Marine unit started in 1861 using rowboats out of the three districts that were on the waterfronts, Southern, Central, and Eastern. The Bicycle Unit had first started in 1917, and then again 1972, and finally 1992. Each of these had prior attempts, one two maybe three tries before they got it right, the odd thing, with the K9 Unit, in the 1917 article, they mentioned the dogs going home with their handlers. Something Baltimore became known for, rather than creating the dogs between shifts… a big part of the Baltimore system was in taking the dogs home to make them people friendly.
BPD K9
So Happy 60Th Birthday to Baltimore's K9 unit
Turk and Major Grunts could be the most well know K9 Dogs in the department unless we go back to 1914, where instead of today's, German Sheppard's, we may have found two Airedale Terriers check out the following Article:
19 Dec 1948 -
Dog Policeman Killed on Duty - Four Footed Volunteer Struck by Car While on His Beat.
Some may be confused, K9 Dog Policeman Killed in the line of Duty, 1948, as we have all been told of our department not having a K9 unit until 11 Dec 1956. Kind of interesting as I have spoken to several old timers, Jim Mitchell one of my favorite, we became close friends pretty fast, and he once said, I know they say the K9 unit started at 1956, and I remember it being a big deal, I even remember one of the first times I heard a dog chasing a guy down and holding him on a wall until his handler caught up to him, the sound of his paws on the street running is a sound I won't forget, but I seem to remember police dogs before that too, I just don't know too much more about them.' Well, through some research the earliest I found our department associated with K9 dogs, was 1914 where we had use of two dogs, the report named one dog, as 'Luxe' short for Luxenberg… and the second dog as 'Morpheus' the two dogs were privately trained and handled. What follows is some of that information
1914 - 'Luxe' and 'Morpheus' Baltimore’s first recorded K9 dogs -
A little-known fact, while not an official unit, Baltimore had two Police Dogs at their call when two Airedale Terriers from London came to enroll as members of the Police Force. Their owners learned two dogs were already here, privately owned, one belonging to Mr. Jere Wheelright, and the other to Dr. Henry Barton Jacobs. “Luxe”, Mr. Wheelright's dog was a superb example of a highly trained equine aristocrat, big, powerful and intelligent to a degree that was truly remarkable. Morpheus, Dr. Henry Barton Jacobs' dog also a superb example of a highly trained K9. It would be 42 years before we would have an official K9 Unit, but off and on from 1914, until 1956 we had, had Police Dogs used in both a private and official capacity. But not until 1956 did we establish an official unit, with an official methodology that would go on to become world known as the best K9 unit in the country, and then in the world.
By December Marshals Carter and House decided they should have their own K9 unit with-in the Baltimore Police Department, as is found in the following news article dated 18 Sep 1914
TO TRY POLICE DOGS
The Sun (1837-1987); Sep 18, 1914; pg. 12
TO TRY POLICE DOGS
Department Here Will Use Belgian Hounds In Suburbs.
THEIR JOB TO CHASE CROOKS
Success In Other Cities Prompts Experiment Here For Detection and Protection, Four Belgian hounds, trained to attack a burglar or murderer or to assist anyone who needs protection, will soon be doing police duty for the Baltimore Police Department in the suburban districts. At a meeting of the Police Board Wednesday, it was decided to give the police dog a tryout in Baltimore and Marshal Carter and Deputy Marshal House were instructed to create a dog squad as an aid to policemen who work extensive posts. As soon as the dogs are bought, they will be placed in the custody of four-night policemen, who will care for them, being amply repaid for the care by the department.
While the board's action is one of an experiment, it is believed that the dog squad will meet with favor and be an important adjunct of the police force.
The policemen who will have the dogs as aids will take them from their homes directly to their posts. Journeying with the policemen the dogs will work until 5 o'clock in the morning. The dogs will be taught to make detours around houses to detect possible marauders.
The record of police dogs in New York, Brooklyn and cities of the West is said to be a surprising one, many notable captures having been made by the animals. According to Marshal Carter and Deputy Marshal House, the Belgian hounds can be trained in criminal detection as well as in protective work. As a constant colleague of the patrolman and as a detective he is considered by police as invaluable.
'When the dogs are in regular police service,' declared Deputy Marshal House,
“They can be put on guard at the door of a house and no one will be permitted to pass in or out. If one is rash enough to try it, the dog will knock him down and sit on him. He does this by getting between the legs of the would-be fugitive and causing him to lose his balance and fall.'
Marshal Carter said last night that he would arrange immediately to get at least four dogs in the department within the next two weeks. It is expected that a Belgian hound will cost about $100. Marshal Carter was in Milwaukee several years ago and in looking over the police situation he learned of the work that the Belgian police dogs do there.
This is only one of the many new ideas that the Police Board has to better the police system. It is probable that within the next six months the department will Increase the dog squad.
1914-1916 - 'Luxe' and 'Morpheus' Baltimore’s first K9 dogs - A little-known fact, while not an official unit, Baltimore had two Police Dogs at their call when two Airedale Terriers from London came to enroll as members of the Police Force. Their owners learned two dogs were already here, privately owned, one belonging to Mr. Jere Wheelright, and the other to Dr. Henry Barton Jacobs. “Luxe”, Mr. Wheelright's dog was a superb example of a highly trained equine aristocrat, big, powerful and intelligent to a degree that was truly remarkable. It would be 42 years before we would have an 'Official' K9 Unit, but, off and on, since 1914, we had, had Police Dogs used in both a private and official capacity. Still, it wasn't until 1956 that we establish an official unit, with an official methodology that would go on to become world known as the best K9 unit in the country using a system known as the 'Baltimore System'.
Add to this information a dog we used in 1948 - Socolow McGee - 18 Dec 1948, 'McGee' as this dog was better known, was killed in the line of duty, while patrolling the Central District, he was struck by a car, that car rushed him to an emergency Veterinarian Hospital where he was pronounced dead. This based on a Sun Paper Article dated 19 Dec 1948 - But this my friends, is not to say anything less of our current K9 unit, as with most units, in the department there were some start-up attempts, The Marine unit started in 1861 using rowboats out of the three districts that were on the waterfronts, Southern, Central, and Eastern. The Bicycle Unit had first started in 1917, and then again 1972, and finally 1992. Each of these had prior attempts, one two maybe three tries before they got it right, the odd thing, with the K9 Unit, in the 1917 article, they mentioned the dogs going home with their handlers. Something Baltimore became known for, rather than creating the dogs between shifts… a big part of the Baltimore system was in taking the dogs home to make them people friendly.
https://baltimorepolicemuseum.com/en/bpd-units/k-9-unit.html
#BPD_History
Sgt. Edward M. Sawyer 
