November 12, 2025
Sometimes the most helpful investigative resource has paws and an exceptionally strong sense of smell.
“Whether sweeping a building for explosives, digging through a fire scene for accelerants or searching a room for an electronic device, this work would look very different without our canine partners,” said Lt. Ben Schwalm, commander of the Michigan State Police (MSP) Canine Unit. “We hope to get about eight years on the job with each dog and ideally have a replacement canine ready prior to retirement to lessen the impact on our calls for service.”
Seven new detection dogs are going through the eight-to-10-week training process now, of which five are replacements and two are new. In the group are five Labrador Retrievers and two German Shepherds. Most will serve a single purpose, either detecting explosives, accelerants or electronics, with one being trained to use both on patrol and for explosive detection.
“A detection dog is a great change of pace when you’re used to having a canine patrol partner,” said Sgt. Richard Birmingham, assigned to the Canine Unit’s kennels. “You generally know what you’re seeking and in a targeted area. They’re trained to alert us handlers to the presence of the odors with a learned response like sitting.”
Sergeant Birmingham is paired with El, a black lab who is being trained in explosive detection.
“Labs are overall, less alarming than Shepherds so they’re perfect for explosive detection since they need to interact with people,” said Sergeant Birmingham. “We train ours to pick up on static objects in an environment and on items being carried by a person in a bag or on their body in crowded or public places like airports and stadiums.”
Each of the new detection dogs will be on duty starting in mid-November.
“Our canine teams are an incredible resource for the communities we serve,” said Lieutenant Schwalm. “We are always available to assist our local police or fire partners anywhere in Michigan.”
The MSP has 42 canine teams strategically placed throughout the state whose handlers answer calls for service 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Collectively, the unit has 63 canines and handles more than 6,100 requests for service annually, making it one of the largest and busiest in the country.
The MSP Canine Unit was established in 1960. The majority of canines are German Shepherds due to the breed's ability to handle the various functions and stress with intelligent problem-solving abilities and a high work drive. The unit provides services in narcotic, firearm, cyber, explosive, accelerant and cadaver detection, as well as the tactical entry dog (TED) program, which provides services to the MSP Emergency Support Team.
