Baron Signs Off With Arrest

By Ron Fanfair

Ron Fanfair

Writer/Photographer

Police Dog Services

On his last shift of a career of dogged police work, Baron never let up.

On April 15, Const. Scott Aikman and General Purpose Dog Baron responded to call in 32 Division after alleged car theft suspects fled from police.

Two males, allegedly in possession of two stolen Lexus vehicles, took off on foot when officers approached them. One of them was arrested, while another jumped a fence and ran into a nearby graveyard.

“They couldn’t find him, so they set up a perimeter around the cemetery and called for a dog,” said Aikman, who has been with Police Dog Services for the last nine years and Baron’s partner. “When we got there, Baron tracked through the cemetery and found the outstanding suspect hiding in bush beside a gravestone. Once Baron barked at him, he quickly and smartly surrendered and was taken into custody. It was almost the perfect timing for the end of a magnificent career.”

Aikman has adopted Baron will continue to care for him in retirement, just as he has brought him home during the course of his career.

The male German Shepherd was trained to be a general purpose dog.

“He was trained to search for fresh human scent that included searching for and tracking criminals that ran away from police, missing persons and property that involves human scent,” said Aikman, a 32-year veteran of the Service.

Police Dog Services also employs search and rescue, firearm, explosive, narcotic and cadaver detection dogs.

Baron joined the Service eight years ago.

“He is highly driven, protective and loyal,” Aikman said, of his longtime partner.

Aikman credits Baron with saving him from possible harm while they were tracking a break-and-enter suspect a few years ago.

“This was in the middle of the night and it was just Baron and me,” he recalled. “We were in an industrial area between two buildings and Baron had picked up his smell from around the corner. As we went down the alleyway, we thought the suspect was hiding behind an air conditioner. The airflow in the alleyway was weird and the suspect, was in fact, hiding right behind me. I didn’t see him, but Baron did out of the corner of an eye. The guy was a about a foot behind me when Baron jumped at him. The dog obviously sensed there was a threat to me and immediately took action. It was such an awesome feeling to know he had my back. He always has it.”

Transitioning to retirement, said Aikman, will be challenging for the nine-year-old dog.

“He still wants to work and his mindset is still in high drive,” said the officer. “I have to be cognizant of that and keep him active. On my time off, I plan to have my family members hide at the cottage and in the woods so that Baron can find them.

He said he wants to engage the dog while allowing him to relax in retirement.

“He is getting older and I suspect he will slip into a nice retirement groove where he’s going to try to catch his tail, play with balls and sit by the fireside,” he said.

A dog in dog bed by a fire
Baron relaxes at home Photo: Handout

Tags

dogs

Contact Corporate Communications

416-808-7100
40 College St., Toronto, ON M5G 2J3
Location of the contact address on the map

Share