Our journalist walks around Greater Montreal to talk about people, events or places that mark urban life
For six years, police officer Joannie Boulanger has been inseparable from her German shepherd Jeff. Day and night, since the dogs of the canine unit of the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) do not leave their masters when their shift is over. “It’s not just a job, but commitment and passion. »
“It’s gripping,” the agent also agrees. But that’s what she wanted. It even took her several attempts before she obtained her position, for which there were more candidates than the dozen elected.
Joannie Boulanger fell in love with the canine unit during an intervention. “It was for a break and enter. A suspect had entered a business, then we located him with the dog handler, she said. I was impressed. You could practice the profession of police officer with a dog as a working tool. »
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, THE PRESS
Joannie Boulanger is 38 years old and has 17 years of service with the SPVM.
The mother of two children aged 6 and 10 speaks of Jeff as a “work tool”, but also as a “member of the family”.
“We take the work home,” adds his colleague Patrick Desjardins, whose partner is called Monty. But there is a big difference between a family dog and a working dog. »
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, THE PRESS
Monty is a German Shepherd.
A lot of time
The two police officers were the foster parents of their dog before officially joining the ranks of the canine unit. Then, a year of training is necessary before entering the field. And they will have to start again when they change dogs. “It’s long-term work with small victories every day. But for dogs, it’s play,” says Patrick Desjardins.
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, THE PRESS
The first canine unit existed for a few years before being abolished in 1972. A pilot project brought it back to life in 1995 with great success.
For several years, the canine unit has shared a building on Mount Royal with the cavalry, the oldest special unit of the SPVM1. The horses spend the night in the stable while the dogs follow their master 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (while remaining outside the house in an enclosure with a heated kennel).
In the stable, Merlin is, at 22 years old, the oldest horse. He is nearing retirement. In the canine unit, the animals stop “working” much earlier, around the age of 8 years. In both cases, the animals can then be adopted by their faithful police companion.
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, THE PRESS
Jeff and Monty’s owners affectionately describe them as two “grumpy” people with exemplary loyalty.
Like all their colleagues in the canine unit, Monty and Jeff are generalists with a specialty in detecting narcotics, but also firearms and money.
Patrick Desjardins recounts how he was proud of Monty when the dog found a suspect hiding in a yard after a shooting. Detail: the latter also had a kilo of cocaine and a loaded firearm. “It was really impressive. »
“What makes me the most proud is when I couldn’t have done it without my dog,” says Joannie Boulanger.
According to her, 70% of the suspect searches her dog Jeff currently conducts are for car thefts. Often, thieves chased by the police abandon the vehicle and flee. “Our dogs are trained to follow human scent. »
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, THE PRESS
Jeff found hidden shell casings in front of us in a matter of seconds.
“Dogs have good days and bad days. We constantly question ourselves about what we should work with them,” emphasizes Joannie Boulanger.
Training is done according to three disciplines (detection, search, agility). However, the dogs guess when the person they must find is a suspect and not a police officer who is doing it for practice. This is thanks to pheromones, which allow dogs to detect odors linked to anxiety and fear.
Monty could have been there in 2021. He and his master accompanied the Tactical Intervention Group for a man barricaded in a house who was threatening members of his family. When Monty found the suspect in crisis, the suspect cut him in the throat with glass. “Fortunately, it was in the fat of the neck,” says Patrick Desjardins. Monty recovered within a few weeks. »
Not only did Monty recover, but the Association of Veterinary Doctors of Quebec (AMVQ) also inducted him into the Quebec Animal Pantheon – in the professional category.
Visit the Quebec Animal Pantheon website
PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF VETERINARY PHYSICIANS OF QUEBEC
Patrick Desjardins with Monty during the ceremony
Dedication
Dog handlers have a great emotional commitment to their animal. They also devote a lot of time and care to him outside of working hours.
Last December, Jeff required emergency surgery after eating tissue. Joannie spent her holiday season caring for him. That’s not to mention that the German Shepherd has a special raw diet with supplements, says Joannie. “His stomach is fragile. »
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, THE PRESS
It’s reward time.
A dog’s sense of smell is 10,000 to 20,000 times greater than that of humans. According to the SPVM, a dog from the canine unit accomplishes in one hour of outdoor search the equivalent of the work of 30 police officers.
Dog handlers work with a lot of unknowns and unexpected events. “It’s a living being,” says Patrick Desjardins. “Who doesn’t speak,” adds Joannie Boulanger before saying, in conclusion:
“I know our cavalry colleagues told you they have the best job in the world, but we have it! »
1. Read the article “Being a police officer… on horseback”