Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Monday, April 9, 2007

FORT SMITH - Peter Martselos thinks the South Slave should have its own police dog.

The Fort Smith mayor said the NWT is too large to be covered by the one police dog and RCMP handler now based in Yellowknife.

The existing dog has made an impact against illegal drugs whenever it has been in Fort Smith, he added.

His idea is that three communities in the South Slave - Fort Smith, Hay River and Fort Resolution - join forces to contribute the estimated $105,000 it would take to buy a trained police dog.

Martselos would like to see the dog and its handler stationed in Fort Smith, and shared with other South Slave communities.

The RCMP would have to provide a handler.

"If we had a dog south of the lake, it would make it easier for them to do the job properly," said Martselos, who has written to Hay River Town Council and Deninoo Community Council in Fort Resolution for support.

Despite the request from Martselos, Hay River and Fort Resolution are not ready to get involved in the proposal.

Tausia Lal, the senior administrative officer with Deninoo Community Council, said it is a good idea, but added, "Financially, we can't afford to help."

Martselos suggested each community contribute about $35,000. Hay River Mayor John Pollard said the idea was discussed by council, but no consensus could be reached.

"I don't think there's any will to put up money to buy a police dog," Pollard said.

However, he noted all councillors agree it is a worthy cause.