Doggone it, it’s a first
In a ceremony Tuesday at Royal Newfoundland Constabulary headquarters at Fort Townshend in St. John’s, the newest four-legged member of the force and her handler were introduced. Police service dog Dali and Const. Pat Mcdonald, a 13-year veteran of the RNC, recently completed a six-month training course at the RCMP training centre in Innisfail, Alta.
The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary officially introduced its newest members of the police dog services unit Monday.
Handler Const. Pat Mcdonald and police service dog “Dali” recently completed a six-month training program in Innisfail, Alta., at the RCMP’S National Police Dog Training Centre.
Mcdonald, who is in his 13th year with the RNC, joins the police dog services unit from the operational patrol services division, according to a news release from the RNC.
Dali, who is the first female police dog in the RNC’S history, was a gift from local businessman Jim Hynes, the RNC said.
The purebred German shephard was bred and trained through the RCMP.
Dali, who weighs 63 pounds, specializes in detecting explosives, the RNC said.
Mcdonald and Dali join three other handlers and police
dogs on the northeast Avalon that are instrumental in helping investigators locate vulnerable people, suspects and evidence, as well as performing other general duties.
Hynes has been involved with the police dog services
unit since 2015 and has made major contributions to the unit in an effort to help the RNC enhance how the force responds to calls requiring police dogs, the RNC said.
Dali is named after one of Hynes’ own dogs. He has also provided the latest in GPS tracking technology for the dogs and the handlers, FLIR Thermal Imaging cameras, and is building state-of-the-art dog kennels at the handlers’ private residences to securely house the dogs when off-duty, with help from other community donors, the RNC said.
There is no particular reason why there haven’t been female police dogs before, they are just uncommon, the RNC said.