Madang police in need of dogs to assist search for officers

By DOROTHY MARK
POLICE in Madang need dogs to help in their work, acting provincial police commander Jacob Bando says.
Bando said he had to ask a private security firm to use their dogs during the search for missing police officer Constable Clement Vilau.
It has been eight days since Vilau and two other officers were swept away by floodwaters at Tapo bridge outside Madang town. Constable Justin Baugen survived while Senior Sergeant Willie Marita died.
Vilau, 34, of Gunenba in East New Britain, is still missing. The police search team decided to include dogs in the search.
“We still don’t know if the officer is still alive or dead but we will still continue with the search and this time we want to use dogs,” he said.
Bando said the last dog owned by Madang police died in 2015.
A police source said four dogs were being trained at Bomana.
Meanwhile, Bando warned residents to be wary about the use of firecrackers.
He said firecrackers sounded like guns and people could mistake the sound.
Bando said their Christmas and New Year operation had not begun because officers were busy searching for their missing colleague.