Image: Saanich Police Department / The Saanich Police Department announced Monday (Jan. 30) the newest member of its family, Beacon, a two-year-old lab who works as an operational stress intervention dog, will assist staff during debriefings of critical incidents and better support victims of crime and survivors of sexualized offences during interviews in a trauma-informed manner.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Saanich PD intervention dog

Police department on Vancouver Island introduces its newest member, Beacon, an intervention dog

Jan 31, 2023 | 10:19 AM

SAANICH — A police department on Vancouver Island has found an innovative way to support its staff following some recent critical incidents and to lessen occupational stress injuries.

The Saanich Police Department announced Monday (Jan. 30) the addition of its newest family member, a two-year-old black lab named Beacon.

Beacon is an operational stress intervention dog and has been donated to the SPD by Wounded Warriors Canada, in partnership with Vancouver Island Service Dogs, a Division of B.C. Guide Dogs.

“Beacon joined us in an ongoing effort to support our staff in the aftermath of critical incidents and to minimize occupational stress injuries,” Saanich PD wrote in a social media post. “Trained to sense anxiety, Beacon will comfort our staff during debriefings of critical incidents and better support victims of crime and survivors of sexualized offences during interviews in a trauma-informed manner.”

Beacon spends his days in the police facility greeting staff, attending meetings, and of course, enjoying extended naps.

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“We are extremely proud of our partnership with the Saanich Police Department. Operational Stress Intervention dog Beacon represents another way we have been able to assist the service following the trauma their members and their families endured as a result of last summer’s attempted bank robbery,” said Scott Maxwell, executive director of Wounded Warriors Canada. “We’re grateful for the training he has received through our partners at Vancouver Island Compassion Dogs and we look forward to seeing the impact Beacon will have on the service moving forward.”

Saanich Chief Constable Dean Duthie says Beacon has already made an impact on department staff.

Image: Saanich PD / Beacon, a two-year-old lab, is the newest member of the Saanich Police Department. He is trained to provide a calming presence to police and victims.

“His impact on our organization and our staff that work here has already been tremendous and we are thrilled to have him here,” said Duthie. “We are very grateful for our partnership with Wounded Warriors and VICD Service Dogs.”

by Mike Vanden Bosch

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Police department on Vancouver Island introduces its newest member, Beacon, an intervention dog

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