'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.