Seven new Police Service Dogs are now on duty in B.C.’s Lower Mainland in what the RCMP calls one of the biggest deployments ever in the region of new four-legged recruits.
The dogs had been training at the RCMP Police Dog Service Training Centre in Innisfail, AB along with their handlers to track, search and catch. They’ll be working with their human partners in Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Coquitlam, Ridge Meadows, Surrey and West Vancouver.
“Having seven Police Service Dog teams arrive in the Lower Mainland is one of the most significant deployments in recent years,
” Staff Sergeant Derek King said in a statement. “These teams will improve our ability to respond to calls requiring a police dog and greatly increase the level of service provided to the public.
“
They are working dogs, but they are also loaded with personality — something Mounties celebrated in Tuesday’s announcement.
In an average year, the Integrated Police Dog Service in the region responds to 10,000 calls for service.
Their duties include finding missing people, helping those in crisis, searching for evidence, as well as locating and taking down criminal suspects, according to Mounties.
They do it all with flair.
“A police dog is often the difference needed to bring about a successful conclusion to a wide variety of police incidents,
” IPDS Media Relations Officer, Constable Ross Findlay of the New Westminster Police said in a statement.
“Many people are safe today thanks to the actions of our heroic, furry partners! I’m sure it won’t be long until we hear something amazing about these new teams
,” he added.
