Pubdate: Tue, 06 Jan 2009
Source: Golden Star (CN BC)
Copyright: 2009 Black Press
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/mxqMYtuT
Website: http://www.thegoldenstar.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2144
Author: Carrie White
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?237 (Drug Dogs)

RCMP LOSES UNIQUE MEMBER

A special officer of the law with a ground breaking career passed away
recently, leaving his fellow officers to remember him as a hero and
loyal friend.

Police Service Dog (PSD) Jack, passed away in December after an
incredible eight year career that his fellow officers continue to
praise to this day.

Sgt. Marko Shehovac, of the Golden RCMP, said that Jack did a lot of
work in the Golden area and was responsible for numerous drug seizures
in the community.

Jack began his career in December 2000 and was the first speciality
dog to hit the highways with a uniformed member of Traffic Services in
Saskatchewan. In 2003, he moved to British Columbia and became a
legend in the force. Jack was well-trained to search and detect
marijuana, hash, cocaine, heroin, psilocybin, methamphetamine and
ecstasy. Just two weeks into his career, he was able to detect a
suitcase with two plastic bags full of currency totalling $196,520.
Throughout his career, Jack was able to detect drugs in various
amounts for an incredible total of over $42 million.

According to a recent press release, "Jack was proud to be a member of
the RCMP and a dedicated one at that. It was hard to miss, seeing his
wagging tail each time he sat when he detected the presence of drugs.
He could hardly wait to get his toy, his reward for doing a job that
he loved."

Cpl. Tom Baulkham, Jack's handler, recounts one day when he and Jack
seized 30 pounds of marijuana from a vehicle.

"I was feeling proud of the work that we had done, yet noticed that
Jack kept going to the vehicle and wanting to crawl underneath. As it
turns out, I had missed 64 more pounds which were hidden in
compartments underneath the vehicle. Jack sure put me in my place that
day, proving that his keen sense of smell was just way better."

In describing Jack's importance in his life, Cpl. Baulkham says that
there is still a lump in his throat the size of a grapefruit to this
day.

"Jack gave our whole family more joy and love than anyone could have
dreamed of and I am forever in debt to him. I will thank my lucky
stars for the amazing eight years that we had together. Jack will
always be terribly missed, but will never be forgotten."
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin