BEVERLY HILLS — After completing their five-week training course, Office Kevin Orth and his canine partner Tau have been actively serving Beverly Hills as of January 28. Tau, a one-and-a-half-year-old male, is a Belgian Malinois, also known as a Belgian Shepherd.

Belgian Shepherds are highly desirable as working dogs, due to their ability to detect explosives and narcotics, and also due to their short and neutrally colored fur which is useful in preventing heatstroke. They are small enough to be carried, yet large enough to effectively attack an enemy. As a result, Belgian Malinois are used in the United States Secret Service, the Israel Defense Forces, among many others. A Belgian Malinois was involved in the campaign in which Osama bin Laden was killed.

Tau has been “trained in patrol work and explosive detection,” according to a news release by the Beverly Hills Police Department (BHPD). Canyon News spoke to Lieutenant Lincoln Hoshino regarding the type of training Tau went through. “The five weeks of canine training consist of basic obedience, patrol interior searching, patrol exterior searching, EOD scent recognition, EOD searching and tactics,” Lieutenant Hoshino said.

Tau is the third canine whose training has been funded by donations from Beverly Hills resident and philanthropist Erika Glazer, daughter of mall developer Guilford Glazer. For more information regarding Tau, contact Lieutenant Public Information Officer Lincoln Hoshino at 310-285-2107.