Bellevue’s ‘Paws on Patrol’ program turns dog walkers into crime fighters
Jul 23, 2019, 6:10 AM | Updated: Oct 1, 2024, 11:45 am
The next time you take your dog for a walk in Bellevue, you could do so as an official G-Man. Bellevue police are enlisting dog walkers to become sentinels and be on the lookout for any suspicious activity. The move is likely to inspire fear in the hearts of Bellevue criminals everywhere.
“Paws on Patrol” volunteers would receive basic training on how to spot suspicious activity. Once the training is completed, the dogs would earn a special “Paws on Patrol” tag, which they’ll probably try to chew off, and then can hit the streets.
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It’s not that this will in any way address a widespread police shortage, but since you’re walking with your dog, Bellevue police figured you might as well make yourself useful and narc on your fellow citizens. With tens of thousands of people out walking their dogs throughout the day according to Bellevue police, the dog walkers would be nothing less than an army of tail-wagging crime fighters.
“We get so busy in our daily lives that even when we’re walking our dogs, we’re chatting on our phones, texting or surfing the net,” said Crime Prevention Detective Jeff Borsheim on the Bellevue Beat Blog. “We’re asking Paws on Patrol volunteers to be aware of their surroundings and look for suspicious activity while you’re walking your dog.”
When they notice suspicious activity, dog walkers aren’t expected to pursue the perp and catch them with a plastic poop bag or anything. Instead, they ask that you simply report the incident so the actual police and their canine corps can swoop in and make the bust, reports King 5.
Bellevue police say that more than 100 people have already signed up to take part, or 200-plus if you count the dogs. There’s no word yet on whether the program will be expanded to joggers, pizza delivery drivers, or even cats, not that the cats would be of any help.
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If you and your four-legged friend are interested in signing up, head here.
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