KEEP RCMP DOG, HANDLER HERE: COUNCILLOR

At a time when groups, including the RCMP, are working to address the drug
problem in Whitehorse, city councillor Dave Austin doesn't think the Yukon
RCMP should be losing a dog.

Two members of the territory's border enforcement unit -- dog handler
Const. Wayne Smyth and Labrador Luke -- have been transferred to Calgary,
the RCMP confirmed today.

The two were working on the Integrated Border Enforcement Team (IBET).
Smyth then became a general duty officer with the Whitehorse detachment
while the RCMP decided what to do with the pair before their transfer to
Calgary was decided upon.

M-Division has stated the departures of the handler and dog from IBET is a
funding issue.

Austin pointed out a new chief superintendent of M-division is in place who
has spoken on stepping up the anti-drug program.

As reported in Monday's Star, Chief Supt. David Shewchuk said the Yukon
RCMP are working on a plan to combat the drug situation, but would not
provide details on what that plan entails.

On one hand, the RCMP are working on the drug problem, while on the other,
they're getting rid of a police dog, Austin said.

"I'm just wondering how the two fit," he said. He wants to see the city
send the RCMP a letter encouraging M-division to keep the dog here.

As part of the border team, Luke and Smyth often worked at various border
crossings into the territory as well as at the Whitehorse airport.

Last year, when Smyth and Luke were training in Alberta, Luke sniffed out
236 kilograms (524 pounds) of marijuana while the two were out for a
morning walk.

The Yukon's border team was the only one of 19 across the country with a
dog. Canada Customs paid for Smyth's and Luke's training, with the RCMP
providing the handler and dog.

While the city doesn't provide funding to the RCMP, Austin noted after last
night's council meeting, the city still has a role to play in the matter.

"They're policing our city," he said. "Sure, the government pays for it,
but with the big new push on the drug problem and the new commanding
officer wanting to do more about it, it just kind of slays me that they're
actually thinking about moving the guy out of town with the dog."

If keeping the dog means establishing other priorities with police funding,
so be it, he said.

The letter will likely be sent to the RCMP within the week.

In an interview this morning, Rook said the decision to move Smyth and Luke
to Calgary was made at the federal RCMP level. "The funding for the dog was
federal," Rook explained.

The federal unit continually looks at where IBET resources are best
allocated and can decide where they'll go.

Smyth and Luke will be based in Calgary but work in other communities
around the province as well, Rook said.

In the Yukon, though the pair was based in Whitehorse, they often worked in
other communities throughout the territory, Rook pointed out. A number of
other federal RCMP programs will remain in the territory, with police
continuing to focus on the drug problem through the plan Shewchuk discussed
in Monday's Star, Rook said.

The Whitehorse detachment also has a police dog, Justice, and handler Cpl.
Rod Hamilton.

Rook pointed out Justice can also be flown in to deal with border issues
that may come up in the territory if a police dog is needed. Both Hamilton
and Justice are highly-trained and will continue to be available to deal
with any cases which require a police dog.

Rook did not have the costs for the IBET dog and handler to be in the territory.