Northern Manitoba’s newest RCMP member sure has a nose for solving crime.
Arthur, a dark, brawny German shepherd, is the latest police dog dedicated to the Flin Flon-The Pas region.
“Anything with a human scent, we can search for it or track it,” says Cpl. Bruce Mihalcheon, Arthur’s friendly handler.
Based out of The Pas, Mihalcheon and Arthur can be summoned at a moment’s notice to assist police across the region.
They will help locate missing hunters or snowmobilers. They can apprehend criminals in hiding or sniff out caches of drugs. And they can uncover crucial pieces of evidence in puzzling investigations.
Neither Mihalcheon nor Arthur is new to this game. The corporal spent seven years as a dog handler in Alberta while the six-year-old canine has several years of service.
They are not only colleagues, but also housemates. Their friendship is crucial since they are on-call around the clock and will spend countless hours on the road in stressful situations.
Their coverage area is vast and includes Flin Flon, Creighton, The Pas, Cranberry Portage, Grand Rapids, Easterville and surrounding communities.
Demand
Until the pair’s arrival last month, the nearest RCMP dogs were in Thompson and Dauphin. Demand was such that the Mounties decided to bring a police dog back to The Pas for the first time in at least five years.
Though Arthur is highly trained and obedient, Mihalcheon keeps him on a short leash around strangers.
Those meeting Arthur for the first time are asked to let him sniff them before initiating any interaction. Being close to the canine, one gets the sense he can be fierce when the situation warrants.
Mihalcheon, a 21-year veteran of the Mounties, is well suited for his new role in the region. Not only does he love dogs and the outdoors, he also happens to find his work extremely satisfying.
“It’s more of a lifestyle than a career,” he says.
Arthur brings the number of RCMP dogs in Manitoba to five, with the others based in Thompson, Dauphin, Portage la Prairie and Selkirk. City police in Brandon and Winnipeg also have dog units.
Mihalcheon, who completed his training with Arthur last fall, says police dog services from all over the world look to the RCMP as a leader in the field.
“We are probably the best police dog service in the world,” says the BC native.
When Mihalcheon is not working with Arthur, the corporal will back up general-duty Mounties. He will also take his four-legged partner to schools and public functions as part of community outreach efforts.
