QLD POLICE DOGS

A Queensland Police Service (QPS) General Purpose Dog is trained to perform multiple functions which include obedience and agility exercises to build partnership skills. These are important functions as handlers must maintain control over their dogs at all times. 

General purpose dogs skills are used in many situations such as tracking (following a person's scent) to find offenders and missing people if they are moving on foot. They are equipped with an excellent sense of smell making them invaluable for searching buildings, enclosed areas and bushland. Here the dog searches for scent drifting in the air and follows it to locate a person. Their sense of smell is also used for searching an area for recently discarded property or evidence. Other duties include assisting with the control of crowds which may threaten the safety of the general public.

Source:  http://www.police.qld.gov.au/aboutUs/facilities/dogSquad/meet/default.htm