News release: (Orillia, ON) – The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the OPP Canine Unit. The public and the media are invited to a demonstration as the OPP honours the work of the OPP dog handlers and their canine partners. Take this opportunity to meet past and present handlers and learn more about the heritage of the OPP.
Date: Saturday October 3, 2015
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Ontario Fire College site, 1495 Muskoka Road North, Gravenhurst, ON
This is an outdoor event with limited seating available. Please dress appropriately for weather conditions, and please bring a lawn chair.
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Canine Unit is proudly celebrating 50 years of service to public safety in this province. The Unit was formed in 1965 when three teams of police officer and dog were deployed to help track criminals. The unit has come a long way since then.
The organization currently has 31 police officers and 36 canine partners who have received specialized training to support police services within the OPP. Teams are located across the province to support search and rescue operations. Some of the canine partners and their handlers have had specialized training and are used for detecting narcotics, finding dead bodies and searching for explosives.
“The work these dogs and handlers do has greatly enhanced the OPP’s ability to fight crime in an effective way. Dogs have the skills to accomplish things that no police officer can. In the past five years, OPP canine teams have conducted an average of 1200 tracks per year for criminal apprehensions. The OPP takes great pride in this elite team of dogs and officers who are respected by police agencies across North America,” OPP Deputy Commissioner Brad Blair, Provincial Commander of Traffic Safety and Operational Support.
Since the creation of the OPP Canine Unit fifty years ago, officers and their dogs have also tracked hundreds of lost persons, and have located dangerous drugs and explosives in their line of duty.
The public is welcome to join current and retired OPP dog handlers as they mark this occasion with canine demonstrations and an open house. The event on Saturday, October 3, 2015, will be held at 1495 Muskoka Road North in Gravenhurst at 1 p.m. This is an outdoor event and the public is encouraged to dress appropriately and bring a lawn chair.
