The Montebello Police Department was one of the "First Generation" K9 programs in the Southern California area. This program was started in the fall of 1981 through private donations. A local car dealer donated two police cars, and two K9s were purchased with donated money. Other civic organizations pitched in to get the program started.
The Montebello Police K9 Services Unit had an extremely successful beginning and continued to gain popularity and community support. Ultimately, the city funded the entire unit. Community support increased, and after seeing how K9s were indeed an officer/citizen safety factor, a crime reduction factor, and cost savings to the city, the city authorized two more K9 positions. The unit now totaled four fully operational K9 teams assigned to a centralized unit within the field services unit.
The Montebello Police K9 Services Unit was the "Flagship" of all K9 units in the San Gabriel Valley and southeast Los Angeles area, with many agencies attempting to replicate our program. This unit is currently supervised by a lieutenant who is an experienced former K9 handler. Currently, there are two police service dogs assigned to patrol.
The K9s are trained to protect the handler and other officers. The dogs often search buildings, fields, backyards, etc. for fleeing or hiding suspects who are often armed and dangerous. The dogs are also cross-trained in narcotics detection and article searches.