PETERBOROUGH POLICE DOGS ISAAC AND GRYPHON RECEIVE 4TH AND 5TH PLACE FINISHES AT CANADIAN POLICE DOG CHAMPIONSHIP
Source: The Peterborough Examiner (Extract)
Posted: September 12, 2023
The Peterborough Police Service K9 Unit has returned from the 2023 Canadian police dog championship trials in Barrie with fourth and fifth place finishes.
Const. Bob Cowie, and his dog Isaac, placed fourth in drug detection while Const. Dillon Wentworth, and his dog Gryphon, placed fifth in drug detection and fourth in building searches.
The competition took place Sept. 5 to 9 and featured 39 K9 teams from various law enforcement agencies, including municipal services from across the country, OPP, RCMP, and the Canadian Border Services Agency.
The five-day event, courtesy of the Canadian Police Canine Association, was open to the public and was held at the Sadlon Arena in Barrie.
Judges, handlers and canines were present from the following police and government agencies: OPP, Barrie, Regina, Edmonton, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Saskatoon, Victoria, Ottawa, Canada Border Services Agency, Alabama, Calgary, Peel, London, Peterborough, Saanich, York, Toronto, Sault Ste. Marie, Ottawa Airport Authority and Metro Vancouver Transit.
“It was the first time the trials have been held in Ontario and the first time the Peterborough Police Service has attended,” reads a release from Peterborough police.
Police Chief Stuart Betts says the local K9 officers are some of the best in the country and he’s proud of their hard work and accomplishments.
“I am impressed with the handlers’ dedication to public safety and using the police service dogs as an appropriate tool in that endeavour,” says Betts.
Cowie says there is a considerable amount of training that goes into ensuring Isaac and Gryphon are ready to serve the community.
“It was a great experience to be able to learn and compete with the best in the country,” says Cowie, in the release.
Wentworth says he’d like to thank all of the supporters of the unit for their kind words.
“It was wonderful to know that the community was cheering us on throughout the week,” he adds.
