Cobourg Police bring back K-9 Unit

Cobourg Police Cruiser. By Dan Jones. CFWN, LJI

By Cecilia Nasmith

The Cobourg Police Services welcome back the Canine Unit, the return of a specialized policing resource that began in 1997 with Sgt. Don Missen and a German shepherd named Wally Justice.

This week, Constable Amrit Gil and another German shepherd named Atos took the helm, after they officially graduated from an intensive canine training program led by the Guelph Police Service and Constable Jay Hall, trainer.

Missen, now retired, was present at this week's Police Services Board meeting to hand over the official Canine Unit Badge.

Accepting the badge, Gil recalled the lasting impression made by visits to his school from Missen and Wally Justice.

Chief Chris Leather noted that police service dogs are invaluable resources for locating vulnerable persons, tracking suspects, recovering evidence (including drugs and firearms) and supporting front-line officers in dynamic situations.