4 AMERICAN POLICE BEAT: MAY 2017 Here’s the thing about Dubai – the country is swim- ming in oil money. That’s why they can afford PR campaigns where offi- cers drive around in Bugatti cruisers and are authorized to let tourists and citizens take selfies with the cops and cars. Whether or not these beautiful machines ever see any real action in an actual police pursuit is an open question. That said, the Dubai po- lice have just been presented with a certificate by Guin- ness World Records for hav- ing the world’s fastest police car in service. The Bugatti Veyron has a top speed of 253 mph (407 km/h). Other promotional police vehicles the force owns in- clude an Aston Martin One- 77, a Bentley Continental GT, three hybrid Porsche Panameras and two BMW i8s. This is likely to royally piss off the Carabinieri (Ital- ian police) as they were the previous holders of the Guinness record for fastest police vehicle. But the Lam- borghini Gallardo LP560-4 only has a top speed of 230 mph (370 km/h). Dubai police fleet pretty much a fantasy car show It ain’t the breed or the dog – it’s their training We’re not sure which one’s which, but Sarah and Phantom are both fine- looking animals equipped with good attitudes. It’s great to see foundations and police team up to do good stuff. I n North Carolina, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office says their two new K-9s, Sarah and Phantom, both lived in ani- mal shelters before enter- ing an innovative training program. Not only did the program probably save the two dogs, who likely would have been put down if they weren’t adopted, it also saved local taxpayers thousands of dol- lars. “What will be the most shocking to some will not be that Clay County Sheriff’s has the new K9 Deputies, but rather their breed,” they wrote on Facebook. “De- partments do not need to spend $15,000 to $20,000 for a pure-breed German Shepherd or Belgian Mali- nois – K9 Sarah is a pitbull and K9 Phantom is a pitbull- Boston Terrier mix.” Thanks to the organiza- tions Animal Farm Founda- tion and UniversalK9, both dogs are now working K-9s and escaped miserable lives in shelters. “No pitbull/pitbull mixes granted by Animal Farm Foundation and Univer- salK9 will ever be trained in bite work or criminal apprehension,” the Sheriff’s Office wrote. “They want to show the country and the world the loving and caring nature that most of us have experienced with our pitbulls and show that the pound puppies have what it takes to go up against and sometimes exceed their expensive purebred cous- ins.” The training for the ani- mals was part of the cost savings. Grants from Animal Farm Foundation and Uni- versal K9 covered training. “Instead of paying $30,000 to $40,000 dollars that would have been typical with most departments, the Sheriff’s Office spent a fraction of that,” the post says. Brad Croft, operations director for UniversalK9, is thrilled. “As always, it makes me feel proud to be able to help find productive jobs for these dogs and at the same time provide them with a new home,” he told The Dodo. “I visit shelters often and pit bulls fill them. The more I am able to place these dogs, the more I can save. It’s really a win-win-win for the dogs, law enforcement and taxpayers.” NATIONAL SHERIFFS’ ASSOCIATION GLOBAL CENTER FOR PUBLIC SAFETY WWW.SHERIFFS.ORG/GCPS The Global Center for Public Safety provides professional development, leadership training and resources to increase and strengthen the impact of individuals in middle and senior level management across all law enforcement disciplines. Court Security Jail Operations Homeland Security Leadership Community Policing