Ira and Magyar Vizsla Cola were presented their insignia and given the rank of “major” at the Police K-9 headquarters in Bangkok’s Lak Si area on Friday, which is also the founding day of the Thai Police K-9 Unit.
Ira is nearly four years old, while her male counterpart Cola is about five and a half.
Also attending were 87 other dogs in service and their trainers. They too received awards for their work.
Presiding over the ceremony was Pol Maj-General Phanop Worathanatchakul, commander of the Patrol and Special Operations Division (191 Police). While awarding the two canines, Phanop praised them for their service in tracking down the suspect in the murder of 3-year-old Nong Chompoo in Mukdahan province.
The duo also helped identify Apichai “Ice” Ongwisit who stuffed the body of a young woman he had murdered inside a metal casket hidden in his Bangkok house.
Phanop said each police dog serves for an average of eight years. Before becoming an official member, each dog undergoes three months of general training, six months of special training and another six months of trial at the job.
He said each dog is assigned a specific duty based on their character and behaviour. For instance, outgoing dogs will be assigned to drug-sniffing operations, while those who are unfazed by loud noises will become members of the explosive ordnance disposal unit.