The Belleville Police Service’s newest officer is ready to sniff out suspects and take a bite of out crime.
Bax, a two-year-old German Shepherd and his handler Constable Jesse McInroy, were introduced at a media event on Tuesday, bringing the BPS K-9 Unit back into service for the first time since 2013.
McInroy says Bax is trained to support almost all of the BPS’s front-line units during calls and investigations.
“Our main function will be tracking and locating missing people and suspects, but we also do area searches, evidence searches and firearm and illegal drug detection. Anytime there’s a warrant involved or people under arrest we can search. Even just having him out of the car helps calm things down.”
Belleville Police Constable Jesse McInroy stands with his K-9 partner Bax, on September 8, 2020. (Photo: David Foot / Quinte News)
Acting Police Chief Mike Callaghan also took an opportunity to thank the many sponsors (listed below) who made the reinstatement of the K-9 Unit possible.
He says money and services from those community sponsors will help with veterinary needs, food and even upgrading the K-9 cruiser which cost more than $60,000.
Those upgrades included making space for Bax to be comfortable and easily transported and even an internal thermometer that can start the vehicle and roll the windows down, if it gets too hot.
Callaghan says those donations mark a tremendous show of support for both the police force and the community.
“That just goes to show how integrated our community is into the fabric of community safety. When people see the need and they want to reach out and support, this is something pretty special, because I can tell you this doesn’t happen in larger cities. The Belleville Police Service really appreciates it.”
He added that the K-9 team will be a huge help in quickly locating missing people or suspects, but also sends a message that the BPS is here to keep citizens safe.
“It’s a strong message to the community that we do have these tools at our disposal. For the purposes of enforcement being able to track down firearms or weapons that may have been used in a criminal act, or in a search warrant situation to be able to search for drugs, is unbelievable.”
Callaghan called illegal drugs “one of the single largest scourges in our community”.
Belleville Police Service Acting Chief Mike Callaghan speaks at the introduction of the police force’s new K-9 Officer Bax, on September 8, 2020. (Photo: David Foot / Quinte News)
Between 2013 and now, the BPS would need to call in a K-9 Unit from the OPP or Kingston Police and now they are returning the favour.
McInroy says he and Bax have already been to Kingston at least twice to help with investigations there.
He added that not only does having Bax mark a milestone for the community, but a personal one for him as well.
“It’s an accomplishment, that’s for sure. It was a career goal of mine when I became a police officer in Belleville. It’s taken a while to come to fruition but we’ve got to keep working and training and just create success. Every day is work, whether it’s tracking on a day off, or this, that and the other, it’s every day doing something with him.”
One of the main reasons the BPS had been without a K-9 Unit for so long was that the current police headquarters didn’t have the adequate facilities to host a dog, but the new police station is fully equipped with Bax’s own office, complete with doggy door, automated water dish and other amenities.
When he’s off-duty, Bax lives at home with McInroy and his family, but could be called into action at any time.
The Belleville Police Service is thanking the following community sponsors for helping to bring the K-9 Unit back:
- Potter’s Creek – Adrian Bax
- Settler’s Ridge Developments – Adrian Bax
- ITS Trucking – Rob Haggarty
- Gordon Barr – Mike Clements
- Ainley Group – Adam Wilson
- Brad Aulthouse
- Stirling Vet
- Pet Valu – Jim Ruse
- Rona Rustige
- RFA Planning – Ruth Ferguson Aulthouse
- Van Huizen Homes – Jon Van Huizen
- Frontier Developments – Brad Newbatt
- Duvanco Homes – Dustin Van Soelen
- Cobblestone Homes – Graham Cobb
- McDonald Homes – David McDonald
- Fleetwood Homes – Ryan Bax
Here are a few more photos of Bax in action:
Belleville Police Constable Jesse McInroy shows off the obedience skills of his K-9 partner Bax, on September 8, 2020. (Photo: David Foot / Quinte News)
Belleville Police Constable Jesse McInroy shows off the obedience skills of his K-9 partner Bax, on September 8, 2020. (Photo: David Foot / Quinte News)
Belleville Police Constable Jesse McInroy leads his new K-9 partner Bax to their cruiser. (Photo: David Foot / Quinte News)
Belleville Police Constable Jesse McInroy puts his K-9 partner Bax, back into a cruiser on September 8, 2020. (Photo: David Foot / Quinte News)
