Kosovo Policewoman and Her Four-Legged Partner

When you think of the police and K9 dogs, you immediately create an image of “men’s club”. However, some daring women change that image. That's how we came to meet fearless Irzeme Ferati, the first female police officer in Kosovo, a K9 dog trainer. 

What an amazing thing to highlight this incredible woman making history in Kosovo. Irzeme is one of the best trainers. Her interest in dogs goes back to her childhood: “Since I was a girl, I showed interest and special love toward dogs and other animals. Many police candidates come here with the aim to become trainers but not everyone can do it! You need special energy to spend time dogs and dedicate a lot of time for them”, says Irzeme.

Becoming a trainer of K9 dog is not easy. “You have to put lot of efforts in working with a dog. She needs to trust me and vice versa. This is a mutual work of two of us and simply you must be passionate about this. You must love this! My dog is female, and her name is Rea. She is a Cocker Spaniel” says Irzeme. Often, Rea spends time at Irzeme’s home. “We can leave them here at the Station, but they are sad then, so I am always happy to take her to my home. She is especially cute when acting jealous toward my family and that feeling is beautiful. That special bond we have is amazing!”

“Usually, men are considered stronger, and yes they are physically! But when you combine emotions and passion, something almost always only a woman can do, a miracle happens! I just love what I do, and I don’t fall for stereotypes. We have to overcome stereotypes by beating them”, says Irzeme. “Our station has 44 men and I am the only and very proud representative of women. Today, we have 40 dogs in our unit and we work intensively in searching for and discovering weapons and drugs. Once, we discovered 4 kg of heroin at the airport! I was so proud!”, explains Irzeme. 

While the Kosovo Police K9 dogs have been trained for detecting black powder or contaminated weapons, new technologies using non-traditional materials such as polymers, are increasingly being used in small arms manufacturing. Through the Support to Combating Illicit Arms Trafficking (CIAT) in Kosovo project, funded by the German government, five K9 dogs were procured for the Kosovo Police and trained to detect weapons made out of non-traditional materials and handed over in June 2020. 

On 9 March 2021, UNDP Kosovo donated additional five K9 dogs that will be specifically trained in sniffing and detecting various narcotics and explosives that could be otherwise smuggled through the border crossing points or the green border lines. These dogs will be trained in the period ahead by the K9 certified instructors of the Kosovo Police on polymer sniffing and will be a great addition to the K9 Unit assisting the law enforcement agency in effectively identifying trafficked illicit arms.* At the handover ceremony UNDP Kosovo Resident Representative Maria Suokko stated “In the exceptional circumstances caused by the pandemic, the challenge is to continue providing services to all people – particularly those affected most by the crisis - as efficiently as possible. This applies also to security services. In the complex global environment - filled with many uncertainties - safety and security institutions must be one step ahead. And this is what the Kosovo Police is doing - by expanding its capacities in fighting illicit arms trafficking and advancing the control of small arms and light weapons, ammunition and explosives.”

Irzeme Ferati was born in 1967 and joined the Kosovo Police in 2002. She found a special place in 2006 when she joined K9 Unit. She is a Pristina born mother of three and grandmother to eight grandchildren. Beside Rea, her Cocker Spaniel, she also works with Luki, a German Shepard.

* https://www.ks.undp.org/content/kosovo/en/home/presscenter/pressreleases/2020/06/30/kosovo-police-k9-unit-receives-five-dogs-to-detect-new-technolog.html