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Historical Research: Seeking Info on Military Police and Security K9 Teams from 1972 to Present

29/6/2018

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Picture
Military Police Dog Arras, CFB Trenton, circa 1989 (Source: Unknown)
​The CMPA’s co-Director of History and Heritage, LCol (Ret’d) Paul Thobo-Carlsen, is researching the history of CAF Military Police working dog programs from 1972 to present (after the RCAF Police Sentry Dog Program ended*) and is seeking relevant information and photos from anyone with knowledge of any of these locally-run K9 programs.
​To date, twelve MP handlers and eleven working dogs are known to have operated in support of MP operations from 1987 to present. These include:
  • Jacques Fortier and Arras (German Shepherd drug dog), CFB Trenton, circa 1987 to 91;
  • Paul Melanson and Baby (Rottweiler drug dog), CFB Gagetown, 1989 to 93;
  • Dave Balakowski [deceased] and Justice (German Shepherd drug dog), CFB Petawawa, circa 1990 to 93;
  • Ray McKenzie and Fudge (Border Collie, drug dog), CFB Lahr, circa 1990 to 92;
  • Hugh Devlin (1st handler), Bruce Mellor (2nd handler) and Hamilton (Labrador Retriever drug dog), CFB Baden-Soellingen, 1990 to 92;
  • Preston Mathews and Max (Golden Retriever drug dog), CFB Trenton, circa 1992;
  • Don MacLeod and Bubby (Belgian Malinois drug dog), CFB Shilo, 1997 to 2001;
  • Mario Fortier and Zento (German Shepherd, patrol/drug dog), CFB Edmonton, circa 1998 to 2000;
  • Dave Kimbers and Lahr (German Shepherd patrol/drug dog), CFB Halifax and 14 Wg Greenwood, 2006 to 11;
  • Bernie Parker and Roxy (Labrador Retriever drug dog), CFB Esquimalt, 2007 to 12; and
  • Justin Caron and Vimy (German Shepherd drug dog), CFB Halifax and CFB Petawawa, 2008 to present
Picture
Canadian civilian handler and security dog, CFB Lahr Ammunition Compound, 1991 (Source: Screenshot from Lahr Military Police Section video)
​Additionally, there were MP-supervised programs at CFBs Lahr and Baden-Soellingen in West Germany using civilian handlers and guard dogs to protect the base ammunition compounds.  These security dog programs included:

  • Contracted German armed security guards and dogs, CFB Lahr, circa 1975 to ?;
  • Canadian civilian (dependant) armed security guards and dogs, CFB Lahr, circa late 1980s/early 1990s; and
  • Contracted German armed security guards and dogs, CFB Baden-Soellingen, circa 1977 to 89.
​A significant amount of information is known about the three most recent MP K9 teams operating from 2006 onward.  However, much less is know about the earlier MP teams and the security dog programs in Germany.  
​Former supervisors or co-workers of dog handlers, or anyone with knowledge of one or more of these earlier programs, is requested to contact the CMPA.  Of particular interest are details on how these teams came into being, trained, operated and were supported at the MP unit and base levels.  Other historically relevant information includes photos of handlers and dogs, unit-level documentation (e.g. K9 SOPs, commendation letters, etc), newspaper articles related to MP K9 programs, stories about cases that K9 teams worked on, and amusing anecdotes.
​Any and all assistance is greatly appreciated to help shed light on an area of MP Branch history that has not been yet be well covered.
NOTE:  ​The recently published book by LCol (Ret’d’) A.J. Murtagh and Maj (Ret’d) A.W. Kendall (The History of the RCAF Police Sentry Dog Program: 1963-1972. Burnstown ON: Burnstown Publishing House, 2017) does an excellent job of telling the story of Canada’s only formal and sustained military working dog program.  If you're interested in purchasing a copy of this book, you can do so by visiting www.rcaf-sentrydogs.ca/order.html (website is not associated with the CMPA).
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Trust Fund created for AFP/MP Sentry Dog and Nuclear Security exhibit at the National Air Force Museum of Canada

24/6/2018

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Picture
LAC Fred Davis and “Dole” patrolling a CF-104 dispersal area, 4 Wing Baden-Soellingen, circa 1965. Photo: DND
​The CMPA is working with the National Air Force Museum of Canada, at 8 Wing/CFB Trenton ON, to create a new exhibit showcasing the role of RCAF Air Force Police and CAF Military Police in securing the nuclear weapons used by Canada’s air force during the Cold War.
​The exhibit project lead is Lieutenant-Colonel (Ret’d) Paul Thobo-Carlsen, CMPA Co-Director of History & Heritage.  The project technical advisors are Major (Ret’d) Wayne Kendall, CMPA Director of Membership (Veterans) and a former AFP sentry dog handler, and Lieutenant-Colonel (Ret’d) Andy Murtagh, who organized and implemented the Sentry Dog Program while serving as a staff officer at RCAF 1 Air Division Headquarters, Metz, France.
​The exhibit will be implemented in two phases:
  • Phase 1, to be built in the next 12 months or so, will focus on the sentry dog program at Canada’s air bases in Germany (1963 to 1972) and will feature an AFP sentry dog/handler display (with full size mannequins and backdrop depicting a nuclear-armed CF-104 fighter-bomber in an alert area), along with accompanying storyboards and artifact display cases; and
  • Phase 2, to commence once the museum’s new expansion annex is completed in approximately 3-4 years, will see the display moved to the planned Cold War section and enlarged to showcase the wider role of AFPs and MPs in securing all air force nuclear weapon systems: the CF-104’s nuclear gravity bombs in Germany, and BOMARC nuclear surface-to-air missiles and Genie nuclear air-to-air rockets in Canada.
PicturePhoto: DND
​The National Air Force Museum of Canada has established a specific trust fund to collect the money necessary to create a professional looking exhibit.  The money collected in this trust fund will be used only to build and maintain the AFP/MP exhibit, and donors will be provided charitable donation receipts for tax purposes.

Donations to the trust fund may be made by cheque to the “National Air Force Museum of Canada.” Please ensure all cheques are clearly annotated with “Attn: Air Force Police Exhibit Trust Fund” to ensure they are appropriately directed.  Donation cheques should be mailed to:
  Executive Director
  National Air Force Museum of Canada
  220 RCAF Road
  Astra, ON
  K0K 3W0
Any former AFP or MP sentry dog handlers who wish to donate related artifacts in support of this exhibit should contact the CMPA (cmpa.apmc@gmail.com) with the details of all items for consideration.  Any artifacts subsequently accepted into the NAFMC collection will also be eligible for income tax receipts.
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Today in MP History

15/6/2018

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15 June 2015
The Military Police Branch celebrates its 75th Anniversary.  While celebratory events are held at locations throughout Canada, the centre of gravity was in Ottawa, where numerous events, including a Casino Night, Golf Day, the return of Thunderbird Challenge, and a Gala Dinner at the Canadian War Museum were held throughout the week to celebrate this auspicious anniversary. 
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This Month in MP History

1/6/2018

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​June 1976
The Security Branch flag was formally approved by the Chief of Defence Staff. 
Picture
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  • Home
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