Cobourg Police Service welcomes return of canine unit
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By reporter Natalie Hamilton
When his snout isn’t to the ground sniffing out a human scent or contraband, Atos might be found soaking up rays in his handler’s sunny backyard and savouring a liver treat or two when he’s being a good boy.
While Atos, a one-and-a-half-year-old German shepherd, enjoys his downtime, he’s happiest with his paws on the pavement in active training for his role as the new four-legged member of Cobourg Police Service.
After a 25-year hiatus, the canine unit is returning to CPS. During a recent police services board meeting, attendees were introduced to Const. Amrit Gill and Atos, following the duo’s recent graduation from an intensive canine training program led by the Guelph Police Service.
Gill and Atos have been immersed in exercises alongside canine teams from the Halton Regional Police Service, Guelph Police Service, Belleville Police Service, Brantford Police Service and Windsor Police Service, and were supported throughout the process by Guelph police’s trainer Const. Jay Hall.
During a ceremony last week, CPS police services board chair Adam Bureau and retired sergeant Don Missen, the service’s former canine handler, presented the official canine unit badge to Gill and Atos, symbolizing the return of a program that has had a meaningful place in the service and for the Town of Cobourg, CPS said.
Cobourg Chief of Police Chris Leather told the Independent the canine unit will once again have an important role for CPS moving forward.
“At the very basic level, it’s enhanced capability to apprehend and detect folks who are fleeing from the police – let’s say in the case of a break-and-enter in-progress or a vehicle pursuit where suspects are trying to leave the area because police are already onsite or coming on scene,” said Leather. “Canine gives us tremendous ability for those apprehensions.”
He said the unit is also extremely useful in controlled environments like searches of large areas – fields, large structures, out-buildings, et cetera.
“Even in residences (while) searching for certain contraband, including firearms or illicit substances, the dog is going to be able to help us greatly with that as well,” the chief noted.
He earlier called the introduction of Gill and Atos “an important investment in public safety and investigative excellence. Police service dogs are a unique and invaluable policing resource.”
They assist in locating vulnerable people, tracking suspects, recovering evidence and “supporting front-line officers in dynamic situations. We are extremely proud of the dedication and commitment shown by (Gill) throughout this training process and look forward to the positive impact this team will have on our community.”
For Gill, becoming part of the canine unit has special significance.
“As a kid, I was fascinated by police dogs,” said Gill.
“I still remember when (Missen) and his K-9 partner visited my classroom. Seeing that connection between the officer, the dog, and the community left a lasting impression on me and played a big role in inspiring my decision to become a police officer,” explained Gill.
“I would like to thank the service and the board for their support and the community and trainers. It’s incredibly rewarding to now have the opportunity to help bring a canine unit back to Cobourg, enhance community safety, and hopefully inspire the next generation the same way I was inspired.”
It’s early days, but the possibility of Gill and Atos visiting schools in a controlled setting may occur in the future, noted Leather.
While Atos now lives with Gill, he hails from Poland’s Shallow Creek Kennels. The kennel provides police and military canines across North America. This particular kennel travels to Europe to evaluate canines in the working-dog market, providing canine prospects from all over the world, CPS noted.
“Atos was one of these canine prospects,” explained Lisa Munday, CPS’s manager of communications.
“Working with the kennel, (CPS) was able to assess a broad range of canine candidates and identify the dog best suited for service.”
Also, during the meeting, the police services board officially welcomed the canine unit back to Cobourg and congratulated Gill and Atos on successfully completing their training.
“Today, Amrit and Atos are carrying that legacy forward, supported by strong community partnerships and a shared commitment to enhancing public safety and positive outcomes for the residents of Cobourg,” said Bureau, at the time.
Like the development of the original CPS canine unit, the return of the program has been made possible through strong community support and partnership, the service noted.
CPS has extended its appreciation to Justin’s Pet Store in Cobourg and Port Hope Veterinary Emergency Clinic and Services in Port Hope for their support in establishing the program and the Belleville Police Service for its partnership and ongoing assistance throughout the development of the initiative.
CPS previously operated a canine unit from 1997 to 2003 under Missen’s leadership. During that time, the sergeant worked with two canine partners. K9 Wally Justice, a German shepherd, served from 1997 to 2000 as a patrol dog assisting with tracking, article searches, and criminal apprehensions. Following Wally’s retirement, K9 Percy, an English springer spaniel acquired from the RCMP and specially trained in drug detection, served from 2000 to 2003 before continuing his career with the Toronto Police Service.