Simultaneous Promotion of Walking and Public Safety! ... Busan Autonomous Police Committee Operates the 'Busan Companion Dog Patrol'

Applicants wishing to participate in the 'Busan Companion Dog Patrol' are undergoing the selection screening. [Image source=Busan Police Agency]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Du-yeol] The Busan Metropolitan Autonomous Police Committee will hold the launch ceremony of the ‘Busan Companion Dog Patrol’ on October 1 at the auditorium of Dongmyeong University.

The Companion Dog Patrol is a citizen-participatory security policy where citizens walk with their companion dogs while conducting local crime prevention activities. It is being piloted in Nam-gu and Suyeong-gu districts and is expected to expand throughout Busan city in the future.

Prior to the launch ceremony, the committee recruited applicants living in Nam-gu and Suyeong-gu in August and held a selection screening on the 17th.

During the screening, applicants were evaluated on walking closely beside their owners in narrow passages, calmly passing external stimuli, and passing other dogs without reacting, ultimately selecting 25 teams.

The launch ceremony was organized to announce the official start of the patrol’s activities, provide patrol equipment, and educate patrol members on reporting methods and patrol guidelines.

Starting with the launch ceremony, the patrol will begin full-scale activities by conducting routine walks with their companion dogs, inspecting potential hazards around residential areas, and immediately reporting emergencies to 112 to prompt prompt responses.

The committee plans to cooperate with the Nambu Police Station, which has jurisdiction over the pilot operation areas, to provide ongoing training as needed, supply crime prediction data related to patrol locations, and monitor activities throughout the pilot period to support the patrol.

Additionally, the committee will share measures taken and suggestions during patrol activities to reflect them in local security policies, and after the pilot project ends, analyze its effectiveness to expand the project in the future.

Moon Bong-gyun, chief of the Busan Nambu Police Station, said, “We will spare no support to ensure that the Companion Dog Patrol, a volunteer group voluntarily participating by local residents, operates well according to its purpose,” adding, “We will strive harder to create community security where citizens and police work together.”

Chairman Jeong Yong-hwan said, “I hope the Companion Dog Patrol will play a significant role in timely discovering hazards around daily life that are usually overlooked and prevent missing the so-called ‘golden time’ in life-saving situations due to delayed responses.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.