POLICE – Crime-fighting pooch Neeka celebrates her fifth birthday

It’s birthday bagels for police dog Neeka today. She’s five years old.

Born Jan. 9, 2020, Neeka joined the Kamloops RCMP team in late 2021 after she graduated from the Police Dog Service Training Centre in Innisfail, Alberta. Recognizable in town for her pure black coat and quiet, calm demeanor, Neeka is a member of the Kamloops detachment and the Southeast District Emergency Response Team.

She’s busy and easy to get along with, said Neeka’s handler, Cpl. Stephen Prior of the Police Dog Service (PDS) Unit. She’s been extra busy trying to keep the people of Kamloops safe. She’s probably gone to more than 100 calls just for the Emergency Response Team this year alone.

During her last weekend as a four-year-old dog, Neeka was hard at work assisting members of the Crime Reduction Team with the arrests of two suspects in a stolen vehicle investigation; tracking down a bicycle-riding property thief in Brock, and locating an assault suspect who was taken into custody without incident.

For her birthday, Neeka will be spending the day relaxing and enjoying a bagel with cream cheese — a treat which she especially likes.