A groundbreaking new program launched by the Belleville Police Service on Monday is expected to make a huge difference for officers, investigators and most importantly, victims of crime.
The city police force has teamed up with St. John Ambulance and enlisted a team of five therapy dogs and handlers to take on various roles around BPS headquarters, primarily to comfort victims of crime, especially children, who are being interviewed as part of an investigation.
Staff Sergeant Jeff Geen says it might not seem like a big deal, but having the dogs could make a massive difference for someone having to relive a hard situation.
Inspector Chris Barry has been spearheading the project and organizing it for the past three years.
He says, unlike the two or three other similar programs around the province, the Belleville one is different.
He says while other police forces use therapy dogs outside the interview room, or in other capacities, in Belleville the dogs will be inside the interview room along with their handlers.
That also means handlers could potentially be called as witnesses or be exposed to hearing traumatic stories, so extra precautions are being taken, including having the handlers wear noise cancelling headphones.
The team of therapy dogs and their handlers, who will be assisting the Belleville Police Service, as part of a joint initiative with St. John Ambulance. (Photo: David Foot / Quinte News)
Barry gave credit to the trainers who are taking part in the program and says they are making themselves and their dogs available 24/7, on an as-needed basis.
And he says the dogs will also be used to help ease some of the daily stress of officers.
The program has already been in place at the Quinte Consolidated Courthouse and the expansion into the police station itself is a spinoff of that.
Chief Ron Gignac says “it takes a lot to get a project like this off the runway” and gave credit to Inspector Barry, St. John Ambulance, the volunteers and of course, the dogs.
You can see photos of the therapy dog team below:
Zoey and her handler Terry Callaghan are one of five therapy dog teams that will be assisting the Belleville Police Service, as part of a joint initiative with the local chapter of St. John Ambulance. (Photo: David Foot / Quinte News)
Kerry and her handler Norma Broadbear are one of five therapy dog teams that will be assisting the Belleville Police Service, as part of a joint initiative with the local chapter of St. John Ambulance. (Photo: David Foot / Quinte News)
Cosmo and her handler DJ Sproat are one of five therapy dog teams that will be assisting the Belleville Police Service, as part of a joint initiative with the local chapter of St. John Ambulance. (Photo: David Foot / Quinte News)
Cody and his handler Peter Hodgson are one of five therapy dog teams that will be assisting the Belleville Police Service, as part of a joint initiative with the local chapter of St. John Ambulance. (Photo: David Foot / Quinte News)
Allie and her handler Jennifer Clayton are one of five therapy dog teams that will be assisting the Belleville Police Service, as part of a joint initiative with the local chapter of St. John Ambulance. (Photo: David Foot / Quinte News)
