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"Nitro" -  newest member of Guelph Police Service's canine unit (Canada)
by THANA DHARMARAJAH - (Jul 12, 2007)

His uniform consists of a fluorescent yellow collar around his neck. His weapons are his canine teeth.

Nitro -- the newest member of the Guelph Police Service's canine unit -- hit the streets last week with his partner, Constable Neil Moulton, following a training period.

Born in the Czech Republic, the two-year-old German shepherd was delivered to the Guelph Police through an agent in New York at a cost of US$5,000.

Nitro has joined a current team of two dogs, Major and Magnum.  The force acquired its first police dog, Nero, in 1998. A second dog, Gunner, joined him the following year.  The department has had teams of two dogs since, but hopes eventually to have five dogs in place here.

Inspector Harry Schnurr, who oversaw the canine unit a couple years ago, said since the time of Nero, the canine unit has been a success. That's why they've brought Nitro on board.

Last year, Major and Magnum were credited with helping local police make 85 arrests.

For example, if there was a break-in, it would typically take several officers a significant amount of time to set up a search pattern in the area around the building and look for a suspect, Schnurr said.

Using a dog significantly cuts down the time and manpower it takes to track the suspect and search the area, he said.  Police dogs use their keen canine sense of smell and draw on their extensive training to sniff for human scent and crushed vegetation, Moulton said.  If a suspect is on the run, it's likely an increase in adrenalin will create a more potent human scent, he said.

Nitro has been training with his partner and handler Moulton since he was 16 months old. He's been learning to follow the trail of human scent, apprehend suspects and bite on command.

With his ears perked up and his tongue wagging, the black and tan German shepherd stood beside his partner Tuesday on the covered bridge spanning the Speed River.

"Sit down," Moulton commanded as Nitro's eyes locked onto a jogger running by.  The dog began to crouch down and Moulton stepped on his leash, ordering him to sit all the way down.  Nitro sat on the bridge, his chin on the deck.  It's taken time and effort to train Nitro, but Moulton described him as initially confident.  "He wanted to be the boss."

Nitro was quite young when he arrived at Moulton's doorstep.  The dog was exposed to different trainers and lived for several months in a kennel with other dogs. Then he was paired with Moulton -- an unfamiliar face.  At first, the German shepherd wouldn't allow his handler anywhere near his food bowl. But Nitro is now a fierce protector of his partner. "If he senses anger toward me, then he's going to become very angry," Moulton said.  "He's the best partner ever. (He's) loyal. If something has gone wrong in training and you yell at him, 10 seconds later, he forgets."

Nitro and Moulton trained together for four months. The duo also live together.  They share a variety of assignments including searching for suspects in robberies, break and enters and tracking down missing persons. The pair trains about 35 hours a week.  Schnurr said the plan is to eventually outfit the local police service with five dogs.

That means there would be a dog with all five platoons, so police in Guelph won't have to call in canines from Waterloo, Schnurr said.  "We'd like to use the dog when we're in fresh pursuit of a subject."   Moulton said police dogs often bite suspects, but he pointed out there's a big difference between a dog bite and officers having to draw their guns.

Nitro is expected to serve with the canine unit for five to seven years before he retires.

tdharmarajah@guelphmercury.com

PHOTO CREDIT: DAVE CARTER, GUELPH MERCURY
Constable Neil Moulton says Nitro is the best partner a cop could ask for. Fierce and loyal, Nitro always has his partner's back.

Source: Guelph Mercury - original news story source