Pubdate: Wed, 02 Dec 2009 Source: Regina Leader-Post (CN SN) Copyright: 2009 The Leader-Post Ltd. Contact: http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/letters.html Website: http://www.canada.com/regina/leaderpost/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/361 Author: Angela Hall Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?237 (Drug Dogs) 'DRUG DOG' ON THE JOB Province To Fund New Canine Officer Position The provincial government will soon have ready access to a dog that can sniff out narcotics that make their way into Saskatchewan jails, Corrections, Public Safety and Policing Minister Yogi Huyghebaert said Tuesday. By agreeing to provide the RCMP with funding for a new canine officer position, the corrections ministry will be able to call on police drug dog services as needed, the minister said. "Our goal is the complete elimination of these substances in our jails," Huyghebaert said. "Having a drug dog available for use on a full-time basis will go for a long to enhance the safety and security of our facilities and in turn the safety of our staff, inmates and visitors." The program will cost the province $185,000 in the first year and $130,000 annually on an ongoing basis. The new RCMP dog services team will be based in Meadow Lake, with RCMP dogs already located in Regina, Saskatoon, North Battleford, Prince Albert, Yorkton and Swift Current. Huyghebaert said the government has since early 2008 had a contract in place to allow for occasional dog searches of provincial correctional facilities, a practice that will continue, but the new arrangement with the RCMP will allow for more frequent random searches. Despite government efforts to crack down on drugs in jails, some continue to make it into secure facilities, the minister said. But Huyghebaert said a move to no-contact visiting, institutional clothing and an increase in security cameras in some facilities has helped reduce drug use and the dog is an additional tool. From April through November 2009, 11 criminal charges related to drug possession have been laid against offenders in secure facilities for men. At the news conference Tuesday was local RCMP Sgt. Grant Hignell and Maverick, a 51/2-year-old dog who demonstrated his ability to search out a small bag of drugs. "A dog adds a different element to an investigation. They're able to find things you and I can't even see," said Hignell. While the additional RCMP dog and handler team will help in searches of correctional facilities, the government noted it also means another dog is available to the RCMP to respond to calls for service. The dogs can track suspects and search for evidence at crime scenes and can also be used in search and rescue cases when children are reported missing. The new dog services team is to be in place by spring 2010. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D