The Kawartha Lakes Police Service canine team "Strike" and his handler Constable Mike Stratford graduated on December 16th, 2004 in Niagara Falls having obtained an acceptable standard of canine training in many areas for safe and effective deployment. They commenced their duties in early January 2005. Constable Stratford attends one day per month in Niagara Falls and two, one week sessions per year for re-qualification.

The City of Kawartha Lakes is very proud of the work its K-9 Team does and we appreciate them as a valuable resource of the City of Kawartha Lakes Police Service.

Both our dogs were purchased by the local kennel club, and the program is funded in a very large way by donations. Food for the dog is supplied by an agriculture store (the Horse and Hound) in Lindsay, and the veterinary care is provided by the Kawartha Animal Hospital in Lindsay.

The original K-9 Team of our Police Service was Constable Jeff Wentworth, and his partner, Flint.

This was the first full time police canine was employed at the Lindsay Police Service (now known as the Kawartha Lakes Police Service) in September 1997. The police service had at that time existed for a period of 141 years. The introduction of a Canine Unit was a direct reflection of the ever changing demands of a modern police service.

After the development of training standards and operational policy, Jeff Wentworth a Constable with the Police Service was selected to be the first canine handler. A search was then directed to the selection of a suitable dog.

After consultation with other police services and a look into the European market the Victoria County Kennel Club directed the police service to the Carmspak Kennels of Brooklyn Ontario. A young dog was selected then subjected to an examination by a veterinarian that included blood tests and x-rays. This dog was then evaluated by a number of experienced canine handlers from another police service. A decision was made to purchase "Flint" a long haired Sable Shepard.

Over a three month period Cst Wentworth and "Flint" trained continuously at the facilities provided by the Niagara Regional Police in the Golden Horseshoe area. Flint was the youngest dog in the program but held his own. After training in obedience and control, confined and open spaces tracking, article and weapons searches, drug detection, suspect apprehension and handler protection the pair from Lindsay graduated with extremely marks and expectations.

The program was only possible thru the assistance of Lindsay based community partners. The Victoria County Kennel Club provide the funds to purchase the dog, Farmers Mutual Insurance assisted with the vehicle purchase, food was supplied by the Horse and Hound and veterinary care donated by the Kawartha Animal Hospital.

For the past six years Cst Wentworth has been committed to the program and "Flint", 24 hours a day seven days a week. They worked together and they lived together. Flint accompanied the officer on regular patrol and they trained together both on and off duty. Training was continuous, including two, week long re-certification sessions each year in Niagara Falls. Public relations is also a huge part of the Canine Program. The Kawartha Lakes Police Service offers many community based programs and presentations none more popular than the canine.

Some of the highlight of "Flint’s " career include the apprehension of an emotionally disturbed man who was armed with a knife and later admitted that he planned on making the police take his life. It was Cst Wentworth and Flint who intervened, the man was taken into custody without injury to himself or the police. The K-9 Unit was responsible for the arrest of two subjects at a break and enter at the Lindsay Square Mall in June of 2000. Two men from the Ottawa area were arrested and $8000 in merchandise recovered. Throughout his career Flint was responsible for many drug seizures and subsequent arrests. The Unit was very active in local high schools and their fight against illicit drugs.

Flint was a triple medal winner at the Canadian Law Enforcement Games held in Waterloo in 1998.

The excellent reputation of the Canine Unit was recognized within many police circles and was called upon to assist other services on many occasions. One particular incident happened in October 2003 when the team were called upon to join the F.B.I. and some 300 federal agents and officers from 50 police agencies in a joint forces operation in Lackawanna, New York. In simultaneous raids 20 people were arrested, nine were Arab-Americans. Flint was responsible in locating a quantity of cocaine during one of the searches.

Flint was retired from active service in November 2004 after 7 1/2 years of service. Cst Wentworth will now assume ownership and responsibility for his long term partner.

Since January 01, 2005 in the first year of duties of the K-9 Team, Mike & Strike have been instrumental while assisting in the search and seizure of over $225,000.00 worth of illegal narcotics from our (Lindsay/OPS) area.

We have been successful eleven times in tracking suspects in all kinds of weather. From high temperatures in the hot sun to -40 degrees, through water, bush, and thick forests. These successful trackings led to the arrest of fourteen individuals, resulting in charges of break and enter, theft of vehicles, wanted parties running from police and weapons offences. For example, a suspect shooting a pellet gun at vehicles passing by. We successfully tracked the individual and then went back to the area, (an open field), where Strike found the pellet gun and ammunition that was used. The suspect had hidden them in some bushes.

We have also been called upon to assist neighbouring police agenicies in executing drug warrants and tracking.

We have trained in both Canada and the USA, and have also assited the Unitrd States on warrants involving Drugs and anti-terroism intiatives.

In 2007 the Canine Unit received a new cruiser that is specifically designed for the Canine, resulting in better mobility and comfort for the dog". The back seat area has been designed and modified for the canine to ride safely and comfortable in the back.