DRUG SQUAD GETS BUZZ

From being a member of a diplomat's family to busting prisoners to moving
in with a Vancouver drug cop, Buzz has had an eventful five years on this
planet.

Buzz, a 67-pound black labrador, is the Vancouver police drug squad's
latest recruit and works alongside his handler, Det. Const. Stan Cratchley,
a 14-year cop.

Since his first day on the job in late August, when he sniffed out
marijuana in a teenager's bedroom, Buzz has used his powerful sniffer to
detect more than $400,000 worth of drugs.

Heroin, cocaine, ecstasy and marijuana are just some of the drugs he's
found hidden in cars, closets and even in a ceiling at a pizza shop in the
400-block of Dunlevy Street.

"He's quite incredible," said Cratchley, as Buzz lay at his feet inside a
police building Thursday morning. "He's loyal, friendly and great to be
around."

Dog squads are nothing new to police departments, but in Buzz's case, he's
the only dog in the Lower Mainland assigned to a specific squad. Before
Buzz's arrival, the drug squad would rely on drug dogs Zena or Rollie, who
weren't always available because of demands by patrol division and other
squads.

Buzz's latest bust came Wednesday evening, when he sniffed out six ounces
of crystal methamphetamine, a half-pound of marijuana and 450 tablets of
ecstasy concealed in a safe in an apartment in the 1800-block of Lorne Street.

Though Cratchley said investigators eventually find most drugs at a scene
on their own, Buzz finds drugs in spots that might otherwise go unnoticed.

For example, in a recent search at a house in the 2200-block Waterloo
Street, Buzz found 580 tablets of ecstasy in a crumpled McDonald's bag that
was thought to be garbage.

In the pizza shop on Dunlevy, Buzz jumped on a freezer and pointed his nose
at the ceiling. When officers removed one of the tiles, they found two
plastic containers filled with cocaine.

"Imagine walking into your own home and trying to find something the size
of a pencil eraser. That's tough to do, but not for Buzz. He's like an
expert, who walks right in and says, 'Here it is.'"

Buzz was given to the department by Bob Podesta, a dog handler with the
Correctional Service of Canada. For four years, Podesta and Buzz worked in
the Lower Mainland's prisons, sniffing out drugs on prisoners, visitors and
in cells.

Podesta had acquired Buzz from Big Valley Kennels in Abbotsford, after he
was returned by a diplomat who couldn't handle the high-energy lab.
Podesta, who was looking for a drug dog at the time, especially a
labrador-which are known for their sniffing skills-took the dog for a short
stint, and found that he was a suitable candidate.

When Podesta was recently promoted and transferred, however, he had to
figure out what to do about Buzz.

Retirement wasn't an option, since Buzz is only five years old and highly
skilled. Noting prison work can be a grind for dogs, Podesta contacted the
Vancouver police department.

"It's always difficult to give up a dog that you've been working with for
four years, but my attitude as a dog handler has always been that the dog's
welfare comes first, and it would have been a crime to make a pet out of
that dog," he told the Courier.

Podesta's phone call set off a mini-competition among the eight drug cops
who wanted to become Buzz's new handler. Cratchley, who grew up with labs,
believes he was chosen because of his desire to stick to the drug squad for
the long term, work a flexible schedule and have Buzz move in with him.

"We can't thank Bob enough for the donation. Buzz is not only taking drugs
off the street, he's made our lives easier, and he's also provided me with
a partner and best friend."

Before they hit the road together, Cratchley received two-and-half weeks of
training from Sgt. Gord McGuinness of the department's dog squad. The duo
have been inseparable ever since, with Buzz sleeping under Cratchley's desk
between investigations.

During the Courier's visit, Buzz demonstrated his skills by quickly
discovering marijuana and cocaine in separate desk drawers. In another
demonstration, he found planted cocaine in the dash of a Courier reporter's
car.

His reward: a chewy rope-like toy.

"He can be a lot of work. He's got to be fed, go out to the
bathroom-sometimes while we're doing surveillance-and needs his exercise.
But you've got to take the bad with the good. He's wonderful, and I'm glad
he's here."

As for Podesta, he's encouraged by Buzz's progress.

"I'm just glad that he's having a good time, and it's really nice that it's
working out well for them. I can just see his smiling face every day, and
that makes me feel good."