Calgary police hold ceremony for new canine unit recruits
Calgary police welcomed newly certified dogs Kase, Malin, Merc and Banner into the canine unit with a badge ceremony on Tuesday.
"These handlers and these dogs are incredible," said Chief Mark Neufeld.
Const. Michael Wilkins, one of the handlers accepting the badge with his dog Kase, says that while receiving this badge is an amazing feeling, "it's [Kase's] badge to earn."
Neufeld says the canine unit, with approximately two dozen officers and dogs, is an important one, able to track people, link evidence to crimes and locate contraband and explosives.
"They do a tremendous amount of work around the city," he said.
These German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois and Labrador Retrievers go through a six-month training cycle to learn the basics, then start their fieldwork.
Neufeld says another way they help around the city is through community events and spending a lot of time with students at Youth Link.
Wilkins says he'd always been interested in the canine unit, but experiencing it has exceeded his expectations.
"[The badge is] also kind of a token of a long road ahead," he said.
"It's a 24-7 gig to keep Kase up and running and healthy and happy, so as long as we can do that and he can do his job the best that he can."
The next years for these dogs will be spent with their handlers, the community and chasing crime.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.