The Cobourg Police Service has officially welcomed its new Canine Unit, bringing a specialized policing resource back to the community after more than two decades.
Constable Amrit Gill and his canine partner, Atos, were formally introduced during the July meeting of the Cobourg Police Service Board on Tuesday.
Atos is a one and a half year old German Shepherd from Poland. He and Constable Gill graduated from an intensive canine training program led by the Guelph Police Service on July 24.
The training was completed alongside canine teams from several other police services, including Halton Regional, Guelph, Belleville, Brantford and Windsor.
During Tuesday’s ceremony, Cobourg Police Service Board Chair Adam Bureau and retired Sergeant Don Missen, who previously served as the Service’s canine handler, presented Gill and Atos with their official Canine Unit badge.
Police say Atos will provide support in several areas, including locating vulnerable people, tracking suspects, recovering evidence and detecting drugs and firearms.
Cobourg Police Service Chief Chris Leather described police service dogs as a unique and valuable policing resource that can support officers in dynamic situations.
The return of the Canine Unit has been supported by community partnerships with Justin’s Pet Store and Port Hope Veterinary Emergency Clinic and Services. The Belleville Police Service has provided additional support during the development of the new unit.
The program has historical roots in Cobourg. The original Cobourg Police Service Canine Unit operated from 1997 to 2003 under the leadership of retired Sergeant Don Missen.
The first canine partner, K9 Wally Justice, was a German Shepherd who served from 1997 to 2000, assisting with tracking, article searches and criminal apprehensions. Wally was supported through funding from the Cobourg Rotary Club.
Following Wally’s retirement, K9 Percy, an English Springer Spaniel trained in drug detection, served from 2000 to 2003 before continuing his career with the Toronto Police Service.
The original unit was disbanded following Missen’s retirement in 2003.
Gill says he was inspired to become a police officer after seeing Missen and his K9 partner visit his classroom when he was a child. He says he hopes the return of the unit can create the same kind of positive connection with the next generation.
(Written by: Branden Rushton)
