The city of Busan is expanding a community policing program that pairs citizens with their pet dogs to cover all districts across the metropolitan area. The initiative aims to build a tighter local safety net through a participatory policing model.
The Busan Metropolitan Autonomous Police Commission announced Wednesday that it will extend the "Busan Pet Dog Patrol Squad" to all autonomous districts starting this year.
The Pet Dog Patrol Squad is a participatory policing program in which citizens and their dogs patrol neighborhoods together, working to prevent crime and inspect public facilities for safety hazards. Since its pilot launch in 2022, the program grew to 277 teams operating across 10 districts last year.
In 2024, patrol teams conducted approximately 13,000 rounds and identified 267 safety risks. These included 19 reports to the 112 emergency line, such as intoxicated individuals, and 248 reports to the 120 civil service hotline regarding facility defects. The squad also contributed to improving public awareness of responsible pet culture through joint patrols with police and volunteer crime prevention units and participation in community campaigns.
This year, the program will expand to cover all of Busan by adding six previously unserved areas: Jung-gu, Seo-gu, Yeongdo-gu, Buk-gu, Gangseo-gu, and Gijang-gun. The city also plans to strengthen coordinated patrols among district offices, police, and crime prevention organizations to pursue more systematic safety activities.
Recruitment for new participants runs from Wednesday through July 10. Residents with pet dogs in the eligible areas can apply through a dedicated website and will be selected after document screening and a practical evaluation.
"The Pet Dog Patrol Squad plays an important role in strengthening public awareness of everyday safety that citizens can feel firsthand," Commission Chairman Kim Cheol-jun said. "Through the expansion across all of Busan, we will establish a community-centered safety culture."