By Joanna Putman
Police1
NEW YORK — A specialized team of NYPD K-9s has been flown to Paris to help secure the Olympic Games, providing protection for athletes and spectators, Gothamist reported.
The NYPD did not disclose specific details about the mission, including the number of K-9s deployed, according to the report. The expenses for the trip are covered by the French government.
The NYPD has about 145 dogs, making its canine unit the largest among local police departments. John Pappas, the longest-serving NYPD canine commander and former commanding officer of the NYPD Transit Bureau K-9 unit, told Gothamist that international missions for the dogs are rare but significant.
In the past, NYPD K-9s have been deployed to Haiti for rescue operations following an earthquake and have traveled to Israel for counterterrorism training.
