{"id":62701,"date":"2026-05-27T05:15:34","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T05:15:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/62701\/"},"modified":"2026-05-27T05:15:34","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T05:15:34","slug":"calgary-police-welcome-new-k9-mounted-unit-members","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/62701\/","title":{"rendered":"Calgary police welcome new K9, mounted unit members"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ten dogs and one horse were welcomed into the service during the largest animal-specific badging ceremony ever hosted by the Calgary police.<\/p>\n

Held at the canine park outside of the recently renovated Calgary Police Discovery Centre on May 26, the certification marked the newly employed animals\u2019 transition from training to the official joining of their respective units.<\/p>\n

All training is conducted in-house by Calgary Police Service (CPS) officers who have spent at least five years working patrol before joining the unit. The ceremony not only honoured the animals, but also the crew behind the scenes.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis work goes beyond training \u2014 it\u2019s about building a true partnership,\u201d said CPS Chief Katie McLellan.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cEarning this badge reflects that dedication, and it is with those strong partnerships, both within the teams and across our agencies, that drive our success.\u201d<\/p>\n

While the lone horse will work in mounted patrol, the canines will perform specialized tasks related to suspect apprehension, body recovery, and the detection of harmful substances.<\/p>\n

Of the 10 dogs, four will work in the general canine unit, two will detect human remains, and another four will detect drugs.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The last four will work for the Alberta Sheriffs in what will be their first year with their own drug-detection canine team, trained with assistance from the Calgary police and used as part of their highway patrol program.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"The 10 canines wait their turn to be badged outside of the Calgary Police Discovery Centre on May 26, 2026. SARAH PALMER \/ LIVEWIRE CALGARY<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were happy to assist and lend a hand,\u201d said Sgt. Ian Vernon from the CPS\u2019s canine unit.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cStarting a canine unit from scratch and becoming a canine trainer is no small feat.\u201d<\/p>\n

On average, each dog is deployed approximately four times each shift, responding to a total of 5,000 calls for service each year. Chief McLellan explained the importance of the roles both dogs and horses play.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe work they do is fast-paced, specialized, and incredibly important in keeping people safe,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cOur four-legged members help us do things we could not do or want to do on our own in much the same way our mounted unit brings its own distinct role in how we serve our community by providing a visible and engaging presence.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meet the Calgary police\u2019s newest employees<\/p>\n

Led by Const. Razvan Alexe is the horse Archer, 5, who started his training just last year. Despite standing at just 16 hands high \u2014 just over 5 ft \u2014 and being the smallest in the stable, he has an impressive resume.<\/p>\n

Supervisor and trainer for CPS\u2019s mounted patrol team, Robin Koltusky, explained that he is a patrol horse and that since he started with the police, he has attended missing-persons searches and every Operation Order expedition<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cArcher has proven himself to be kind, inquisitive, and quiet, who always tries hard for his partner,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe is well-mannered and is willing to try anything that is asked of him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Patrol horse Archer (right) with his handler, CPS Const. Razvan Alexe, at the certification ceremony on May 26, 2026. SARAH PALMER \/ LIVEWIRE CALGARY<\/p>\n

In 2016, Koltusky said that the CPS started the tradition of naming their service horses in honour of Canadian military events. She said that his name came from Afghanistan\u2019s Operation Enduring Freedom, which was casually called \u2018Operation Archer.\u2019<\/p>\n

Archer is a Percheron and American Quarter Horse cross gelding, which Koltusky said is not the standard pedigree for patrol horses. Additionally, German short-haired pointers are not typically human-remains-detecting dogs, but this year\u2019s graduation class had two of them.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Sgt. Vernon explained that Labrador retrievers are usually selected for the job, but that the pair of pointers \u2014 Quinn and Bill \u2014 shared the same likeness of \u201chappily searching and following their noses\u201d in being traditional bird-hunting dogs.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Quinn receives her badge with her handler, CPS Const. Yannick Caron. SARAH PALMER \/ LIVEWIRE CALGARY<\/p>\n

\"\"CPS Chief Katie McLellan awards Bill and his handler, Const. Daniel Rogers, his badge. SARAH PALMER \/ LIVEWIRE CALGARY<\/p>\n

Patrol and drug dogs are mostly German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois, Vernon said. No matter the breed or task, he said that each canine undergoes four to six months of training with its handler.\u00a0<\/p>\n

These are officers who have volunteered for the job and have undergone just as much training to prepare for the responsibility. Vernon said this includes almost half a year of live-in situations and rigid lesson plans.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThese new dog handlers got to experience firsthand a crash course of dogs whining at 4 a.m. as they settle into their new homes, unscheduled vet appointments on their days off, and watching the indestructible toy last 10 minutes,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThese guys got it all in a very, very short time, and I\u2019m sure if you asked them, they wouldn\u2019t trade it for another.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"A new Calgary police canine employee waits on the grass prior to the certification ceremony on May 26, 2026. SARAH PALMER \/ LIVEWIRE CALGARY<\/p>\n

\"\"Scarlet, a new Alberta Sheriff\u2019s canine, enjoys a pup-cup after being awarded her badge on May 26, 2026. SARAH PALMER \/ LIVEWIRE CALGARY<\/p>\n

Liked it? Take a second to support Sarah Palmer on Patreon!<\/p>\n

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