Memorial Service for Metropolitan Police Department’s Police Dogs

Police investigators pray​ at a police dog memorial in Itabashi Ward

A memorial service for the Metropolitan Police Department’s police dogs that were involved in searches for missing people and criminal ‍investigations was ⁤held on the ⁤23rd at the Tokyo Livestock Hakuaiin animal ⁢cemetery in Itabashi Ward, Tokyo, with around‍ 30 investigators from the department’s forensics‌ division‍ joining in the ceremony.

Among the seven​ dogs buried since the memorial service in July last year,​ the German shepherd “Aristo”, who died in August this year at the age of 11, ‍was deployed 626​ times during his eight years and nine months of activity. In May 2022, he‍ was dispatched to search for Misaki Ogura, who had gone missing at a campsite in ‌Doshi Village, Yamanashi Prefecture, and discovered ​some bones.

Forensic science division chief Okabe⁤ Masayuki said, “The seven dogs were good friends and good partners. We would like to do our utmost to⁢ maintain public order on behalf of the police ⁤dogs.”

The memorial⁣ was erected in 1968 and ⁤286 horses are ​enshrined there.