Paw and Order

PHOTOS: Poh Jinn Yang, Mabel Teow. GRAPHIC: Mabel Teow

You’ve heard of the phrase, “A dog is man’s best friend”. But for the dogs in the Singapore Police Force's (SPF) K-9 Unit, these loyal companions are so much more. They are guardians of our safety, trained to detect narcotics and explosives, maintain public order, locate people and more.

What began in 1955 with five German Shepherds has evolved into today’s elite Police K-9 Unit with over 250 dogs.

From Belgian Malinois performing suspect tracking and high-visibility patrols to Labrador Retrievers sniffing out contraband, each breed contributes its unique strengths to Singapore’s security. Home Team News goes up-close with three dogs and their handlers.

Dracca: The easy-going narcotics detector

Ever since he was a one-year-old puppy, the now four-year-old Labrador Retriever has been relying on his keen sense of smell and ability to learn quickly to sniff out drugs and other illegal substances. 

Working alongside his handler, Special Constable Sergeant (SC/Sgt) Muhammad Ryan Sei M Yazid, Dracca demonstrated his knack for detecting narcotics hidden on a line-up of media members.

GIF: Mabel Teow

Dracca is a versatile dog who works with his handler to search places like vehicles and warehouses for hidden drugs. PHOTOS: Mabel Teow

SC/Sgt Muhammad Ryan explained that Dracca is trained to recognise different narcotic scents through positive reinforcement and is rewarded with his ball after each successful detection.

GIF: Mabel Teow

Heidi: ‘Small’ but feisty

Heidi may be affectionately labelled as ‘small’ by her handler, but her commitment to her patrolling role is not. Despite nearing retirement age, the seven-year-old Belgian Malinois displays remarkable focus and is excellent at searching for people hiding from the Police. In a live demonstration, Heidi efficiently hunts down a reporter hidden in a room full of lockers.

GIF: Mabel Teow

Station Inspector Hafiz Maideen fondly recalls their numerous patrols together, which have involved everything from victim recovery operations to tracking down a lost phone. PHOTOS: Poh Jinn Yang

Having been with her handler, Station Inspector (SI) Hafiz Maideen, for over six years, Heidi is SI Hafiz’s irreplaceable, reliable and trusted companion.

“If I get into trouble, I know my dog will be there for me,” said SI Hafiz.

Nero: The playful canine with a laser focus

Another Police patrol dog, Nero is sociable and known for his friendly demeanour and love for human interaction. But on duty, he’s all business. Like Heidi, the two-year-old Belgian Shepherd strengthens police presence at hot spots. He was previously deployed during the 2025 National Day Parade, where he worked alongside Senior Staff Sergeant (SSSgt) Chiam Chin Siong to monitor the crowds.

Nero’s demonstration of his obedience training shows his deployment-ready confidence as he responds to SSSgt Chiam’s hand signals.

GIF: Poh Jinn Yang

Despite his rather mischievous nature, Nero is a loyal partner. PHOTOS: Poh Jinn Yang, Mabel Teow

SSSgt Chiam light-heartedly compared teaching Nero to teaching a child. “Sometimes, he won’t listen to you. This is because dogs’ attitudes are like kids, so working with dogs is different from working with adults,” SSSgt Chiam chuckled.

Top Dog Achievements

These dogs are more than just noses on the ground. They form unbreakable bonds with their handlers, becoming trusted partners in deterring and detecting crime. Together, these “pawesome” canine-handler teams are stronger—anticipating each other’s needs, covering each other’s backs and tackling threats as one.