A new officer with a nose for crime has joined the Trail and Greater District RCMP detachment.
Jimmy, a two-year-old German Shepherd and his handler Constable Innes of the ‘E’ Division Traffic Services Roving Traffic Unit, are helping the local force track down illicit drugs - and suspected drug dealers - in the Trail area.
Before becoming an RCMP asset, Jimmy was specially trained to detect a variety of substances at the Police Dog Training Service Centre in Innisfail, AB.
Sgt. Mike Wicentowich says the team has already had success assisting Trail officers during traffic and drug enforcement operations in the greater district.
“Jimmy and Constable Innes have been working in the area for a while,” Wicentowich said. “However, (they’ve) gone largely unnoticed by the public till now.”
Jimmy is typically used to detect drugs during, for example, routine traffic stops. And his scent-sniffing skills have already led to one arrest.
Cocaine, cash, and two-cell phones were seized from a local male suspect on Jan. 22 after Jimmy indicated that the man was in possession of drugs.
The suspect’s subsequent arrest led to charges of drug possession for the purpose of trafficking, which are being forwarded to Crown counsel, Wicentowich said.
“The Trail and Greater District RCMP Detachment is very happy with this partnership,” he added.
“As it is a powerful tool to get drugs out of the community.”
newsroom@trailtimes.ca
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter