READY TO TAKE FLIGHT
Niagara Parks Police Const. Tom Szczygiel and his canine partner Cinder on Wednesday participated in a unique training exercise to simulate a helicopter rescue in the Niagara gorge.
It was all in a day’s work for Cinder.
The four-year-old German Shepherd is the Niagara Parks Police’s only canine member and on Wednesday he joined handler Const. Tom Szczygiel in a unique training exercise to simulate a rescue in the Niagara gorge.
Cinder is trained in tracking and explosives detection and he is also one of the few dogs in Canada who is proficient in helicopter short hauling.
On Wednesday, Cinder and Szczygiel were suspended from a 40-metre rope beneath a helicopter along the Niagara Parkway in Chippawa and flown a short distance before returning to safely to the ground.
The technique is used by the Niagara Parks Police High Angle River Team in cases where other rescue attempts in the gorge would be too dangerous or too time consuming to attempt by other methods.
“It isn’t used all that often, but when it is, it could truly mean the difference between life and death,” said Sgt. Shawn Black.
Short hauling was first developed in Switzerland for rescues in remote mountainous terrain. It is now used all over North America by agencies such as Parks Canada.
The local version of the program started as a joint venture between the Niagara Parks Police and Niagara Helicopters in 2003.
The Niagara Parks Police conducts annual re-certification training exercises to ensure the 11-member team is prepared in the event of an emergency.
“As we head into our busy tourist season, we need to remain ready along with our community partners to respond to emergencies in the Niagara River corridor,” Black said before the team took to the skies.
The dog didn’t seem fazed by what was happening around him.
“You condition him step-by-step so he acquires confidence and he understands it’s safe and he gets a reward at the end so, to him, it’s fun,” Szczygiel said.
The Niagara Parks Police is unique in its short haul program as it involves several civilian partners, Niagara Helicopters and Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours.
“Without them we couldn’t do this,” Black added.
Rene Huessy, of Niagara Helicopters, is pleased to be able to assist.
“This is a way we can give back to the community,” the pilot said. “If I can help out, I will.”