Canine Unit

York Regional Police's Canine Unit is made up of 13 teams, consisting of an officer and a Police Service Dog (PSD). The Canine Unit, which is called out to assist frontline officers, responded to 2,148 calls for service in 2009. 

2009 Highlight
Partners in Success

York Regional Police specialty units often increase their overall effectiveness by working together and that is certainly demonstrated by the Canine and Air Support Units. Both units support frontline officers and can be called out at a moment’s notice to search for suspects, locate fleeing vehicles or provide officer safety by acting as backup.

2009 incidents showcasing this partnership include an assault in progress in Markham in July. Two victims were attacked and robbed by six armed men. The victims were punched and kicked and one was slashed with a knife before the suspects separated and fled on foot. #5 District Uniform officers, with the invaluable assistance of officers aloft in Air2, set up a perimeter and the Canine Unit deployed three of its 13 teams, consisting of an officer and a Police Service Dog (PSD), to locate the suspects. Within minutes, four of the six suspects were located hiding within the perimeter. They now face numerous charges in connection with the violent street-level robbery.

A second incident involved a call for a suspicious person breaking into vehicles in a commercial parking lot in the City of Vaughan. Air2 was first on scene and quickly spotted the suspect, attempting to flee the scene in a stolen vehicle. The officer and Tactical Flight Commander inside Air2 kept observations on the vehicle and directed ground units to its location. Upon entering a dead end, the suspect then fled on foot, crossing railroad tracks and attempting to hide in a field. A Canine Unit team, directed by Air2, arrested the man without incident and he faces numerous charges including breaching previously-imposed court conditions.