Pet Dog Patrol Receives Commendation for Excellence in DUI Arrests

Seoul Metropolitan Autonomous Police Committee, Award Presentation

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] The Seoul Metropolitan Autonomous Police Committee announced on the 25th that it awarded commendations for meritorious service on the 20th to the Seoul Companion Dog Patrol members who assisted in the swift apprehension of a suspected drunk-driving vehicle by reporting it to 112, as well as to the police officers who made the arrest.

On the 2nd, around 22:30, the Companion Dog Patrol was patrolling with two companion dogs in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, when they witnessed a vehicle damaging facilities within a school zone and driving unsteadily. They reported this to 112. The driver was apprehended on the spot by the responding police officers. The patrol members provided detailed explanations of the exact location and the situation during the 112 call, and the police officers from Hanyang Precinct and Oksu Police Box of Seongdong Police Station quickly responded and apprehended the vehicle while it was still in motion. The driver’s blood alcohol level was above the license cancellation threshold (0.08% or higher).

The reason the swift apprehension prevented major accidents such as casualties is attributed to prior training on how to report to 112 during Companion Dog Patrol activities, as well as the strong local geographical knowledge gained from frequently walking the dogs in the neighborhood during patrols. Although the day of the incident was bitterly cold with temperatures below minus 10 degrees Celsius, the appeal of the Companion Dog Patrol, which prevents crime and conducts security activities while walking dogs, played a significant role.

The Seoul Companion Dog Patrol started in May last year in Gangdong-gu and has since expanded to nine autonomous districts, currently operating with a total of 284 teams. From March 2023, the patrol will be gradually expanded to cover entire autonomous districts.

Kim Hak-bae, Chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Autonomous Police Committee, stated, “We will further activate community-participation autonomous police security policies involving citizens, such as the Seoul Companion Dog Patrol and university student patrols.” He added, “We will do our best to ensure that Seoul citizens can feel safe and secure from crime risks anytime and anywhere.”