Timber, a 4-year-old German Shepherd is Portage la Prairie's new police dog.
Portage la Prairie RCMP have a new face around the detachment and community. It is the face of “Timber”, a Police Service Dog. Timber and his handler transferred from Grande Prairie, Alberta to Portage la Prairie, Manitoba in August of 2011.
Timber is a 4-year-old German Shepherd who was bred and born in Innisfail, Alberta, at the RCMP Dog Service Training Center. As with all RCMP Police dogs, Timber made it through an in depth selection process. Only purebred German Shepherds are considered for the RCMP General Duty Police Dog Services. Not only are the dogs to be in perfect physical condition, they must display particular personality traits that make them suitable for police work. It is essential they have an even temperament, hunting instinct and a sound character.
RCMP Police Dogs can be trained in a number of different “profiles”. The main profiles are in Evidence Search, Missing Person’s Search, Narcotics Search, Human Tracking and Criminal Apprehension. Timber is a full profile dog, which means he is trained in multiple profiles and is utilized on patrol as a general duty dog.
Timber works and trains with only one RCMP officer, Cpl. Kris Chornomydz. Cpl. Chornomydz has 10 years experience as an RCMP officer and has been a dog handler for the last 4 years of his service. Timber and Cpl. Chornomydz were teamed up in September 2008. Since then, Cpl. Chornomydz has had sole responsibility for Timber’s daily needs. Timber lives and works with Cpl. Chornomydz. The team trains weekly in order to maintain delivering a high level of service in all the operational profiles.
This Police Dog Service Team covers a large area which includes the city of Portage la Prairie as well as the entire south west corner of Manitoba. On occasion they have also traveled to other areas within the province in order to provide support and relief to other Police Service Dog Teams. The team also provides support to the “D” Division Emergency Response Team as well as the “D” Division Drug Section.
Timber loves his job. He does not like days off as he is enthusiastic and considers his work fun. Since transferring, he and his handler, Cpl. Chornomydz, have added their expertise to many investigations in and around Portage la Prairie. They are both an asset to Portage la Prairie RCMP and a welcome addition.
