The MPD began testing the use of dogs in policing some time before 1970. Police Chief Gordon Johnson sent two officers, Welton Kopp and Mike Fisher, to Washington, D.C. where they trained with two German shepherd dogs. The officers returned to Minneapolis with their dogs and were successful in gaining city support for a K9 program. Officers Kopp and and Fisher recruited 8 officers from the MPD and dogs from private sector breeders for the first K9 class.
The original 1970 K9 Class had 8 teams. They were: Officer William Lundquist and K9 Sergeant; Officer Mark Jacobson and K9 Rommel; Officer Phil Bishman and K9 Lance; Officer Dave Neibur and K9 Thor; Officer Richard Stahura and K9 Trooper; Officer Dick Morrill and K9 Rex; Officer Roger Fancher and K9 Clancy; and Officer Charles Adams and K9 Lance.
Here is a photograph of the late Lieutenant Mike Fisher, then commander of the MPD K9 Unit, and Officer Don Heitland taken in the late 1970s. Note the emergency telephone number on the back of the squad car. This photograph was taken before the advent of 911.