The newest member of the Woodstock Police Service has 4 legs and a great attitude
WOODSTOCK - Officer Striker at your service.
The Woostock Police Service have started a new K9 program and earlier this year they asked for some help in naming the new officer.
Constable Dan Skilling is the dog's handler and was given the task of choosing the name from hundreds of entry's from local elementary schools in the Friendly City. Constable Nikki Vanleeuwen tells Heart FM why Skilling chose the name striker. "K9 officer Dan SKILLINGS has a lengthy history playing competitive softball in Oxford County. Skilling's played softball internationally before deciding to follow his dream of becoming a Police Officer. When SKILLINGS saw the submission of Striker he knew that this was the perfect name. SKILLINGS describes Striker as small and fast which reminds him of the fast pitches and strikes that he would see during his baseball career."
Striker was actually submitted twice by a grade 5 student at St. Michaels Catholic School and from the entire grade 3/4 class at Algonquin Public School. The student from St. Michaels said he chose the name because "the name Striker means fast, brave and strong".
Striker is a 19 month old pup and loves playing ball. Striker is still in training school. Once he has completed his training some of his duties will be to assist officers in locating missing persons, searching for weapons and drugs and assisting if foot pursuits.
Both schools had a visit with Striker and K9 officer Skillings. The students were very excited to have been the first to meet Striker.

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