UCCM Anishnaabe Police Service now operating a full-time canine unit on Manitoulin Island

UCCM Anisnaabe Police have announced their first canine unit on Manitoulin Island – Const. Nick Beaudry and police service dog 'Ben.'

The UCCM Anishnaabe Police Service said it has “unleashed” its first full-time canine unit on Manitoulin Island earlier this week.

Const. Nick Beaudry and his police service dog 'Ben.' Pictured are UCCM Const. Nick Beaudry and his police service dog 'Ben.' (UCCM Anishnaabe Police Service/Facebook)

‘Ben,’ the new police service dog, is a Belgian Malinois. He and his handler Const. Nick Beaudry are graduates of the Ontario Provincial Police Academy Canine Training Centre in Orillia. The pair completed the 18-week training program that included suspect apprehension and searching for evidence along with a five-week training course on drug detection.

“Beaudry comes to UCCM with a wealth of past and current experience that includes the military reserves, summer student with the OPP marine unit, Wikwemikong Tribal Police Service as an auxiliary constable, as well as close to 10 years of experience as a constable with both the Greater Sudbury Police Service and Sault Ste. Marie Police Service where he was working as a full-time canine officer,” said Chief James Killeen in a news release.

Beaudry was born and raised on Manitoulin Island and told police officials he is excited to be back home with family, friends and familiar faces.

UCCM police vehicle An undated photo of the front of a UCCM police vehicle with lights flashing. (File photo/Supplied/UCCM Anishnaabe Police Service)

“Canine units are an immense asset to law enforcement,” UCCM said.

“Police service dogs such as Ben have a keen sense of smell which can assist in quickly detecting suspects or evidence that a regular officer could miss.”

Specialized units were previously not permitted for Indigenous police services under tripartite agreements with the federal and provincial governments. However, UCCM Police is part of an ongoing Canadian Human Rights Tribunal complaint that was filed by the Indigenous Police Chiefs of Ontario against the federal government.

A federal court ruling in June 2023 allowed for these specialized units to be established as it was ruled there are discriminatory clauses in the terms and conditions of the agreements.

UCCM Anishnaabe Police crest The United Chiefs and Councils of Manitoulin Anishnaabe Police crest on the sleeve of Chief of Police James Killeen during a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Monday, June 12, 2023. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press) (Sean Kilpatrick)

“The eventual goal … is to change the First Nation Inuit policing policy that governs Indigenous police services, so we can run our organizations to meet the needs and demands of our communities and offer equitable services that align with mainstream policing,” said UCCM.

“(We) are grateful to be able to continue to establish specialized units that will benefit the safety of not just our Mnidoo Mnising communities, but all of Manitoulin Island,” added Killeen.

The police service told CTV News that Manitoulin residents will see Ben and Beaudry working in communities and attending schools around the island.