Just in time for Women's Day, sole female cop dog breaks glass ceiling and makes first arrest
By Contributor
Chrisa, the one and only current female police dog on the RCMP Lower Mainland District Integrated Police Dog Service, partnered with the newest dog handler to the team, captured their first suspect following an alleged armed robbery.
At just after midnight on March 8, police dog handler Const. Jamie Dopson and Police Service Dog (PSD) Chrisa were called out to assist Coquitlam RCMP after a report of an armed robbery at an ATM machine. A 37-year-old male fled from the scene after allegedly attempting to rob another male at the ATM. Police Service Dog Charisa was able to obtain a track on the suspect and, together with Const. Dopson, chased the track for about 10 minutes when they found the suspect hiding in a backyard.Chrisa made contact with the suspect but no injuries were sustained. This was Chrisa’s first apprehension
After the suspect was apprehended by Chrisa, he was taken into custody by Coquitlam RCMP officers.
“I was impressed with the tenacity and accuracy of Chrisa’s work. She knew exactly what to do and how to handle the situation just like we practice in training,” said Const. Dopson.
Const .Dopson and two-and-a-half-year-old Chrisa are the newest dog-handler team to the RCMP Lower Mainland District Integrated Police Dog Service as they joined in mid-December of 2012. The duo has been together since November 2011 and Const .Dopson’s previous seven years of service was in Coquitlam Detachment.
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