Meet Captain K9

Meet our new 4 legged member, Captain.  Charlottetown Police Services now have a facility dog that will support the mental health and wellbeing of our Officers.

Captain was donated to our Police Service by Canine Therapy for First Responders (CTFFR).   The organization was founded by Tracey Ryan in February 2019 in honor of Fredericton Police Constable Robb Costello after he and Constable Sara Mae Burns were killed in the line of duty in August 2018.

Captain is a nine month old male Golden Retriever that was bred and donated to CTFFR by Goldens with a Mission from Yarmouth Nova Scotia.  Captain was born on July 29, 2022.

Over the next year and a half Captain will receive intensive training to ensure he is fully prepared to complete all his duties as a Facility Dog for CPS. Captain will undertake the Certified Facility Dog and Certified Justice Courthouse Facility Dog program under his organization Canine Therapy for First Responders Inc. This 18-24 month long program will ensure Captain meets the high requirements to work within his future role supporting his CPS Members, but also community members impacted by crime.  He will be trained by Master Trainer and CTFFR Canine Program Executive Director Rhonda Langille from Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia.

Initially Captain will be primarily used at the Police Station providing comfort and affection to our Officers, Dispatchers and other support staff.  He will also be a big part of our community by attending community events, Schools, Nursing Homes and other first responder facilities.   In time, and once training complete, he will be used to support victims of crime.

Captain’s handler is Cst Robert Schnarr.  Cst. Schnarr is a retired veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) with over 20 years’ service. Following his retirement, and indicative of his commitment to public service, he attended the Atlantic Police Academy and joined CPS 10 years ago; he is currently the Forensic Identification Officer.  Cst. Schnarr was also a volunteer firefighter in New Maryland, New Brunswick for 13 years while working with the CAF and is a current volunteer firefighter with Cross Roads Fire Department, Stratford.

Captain also has 3 back up handlers, all of which are part of the Police Services Peer Support Team.   In the picture Captain is flanked by his handlers, left to right are Cst Patrick Hogan, Cst Robert Schnarr, Det/Cpl Tara Watts and Cst Mark Woods.

Within the next few months, we will post an update with information on how Organizations can make requests for Captain to attend their events, stay tuned!