Edmonton German shepherd Maverick top dog in Police Canine Association contest

EDMONTON – An Edmonton police dog has won top honours in the annual Canadian Police Canine Association competition.

Maverick, a German shepherd, and his handler Const. Murray Burke defeated 25 other teams at the event in Medicine Hat, Alta.

The police service dogs and their handlers competed in events such as agility, obedience, criminal apprehension, tracking and building searches.

Jason Gunderson, president of the association and one of the judges, says it was a close competition, but Burke and Maverick won for general purpose patrol dogs.

He says the contest was intense but the dogs and their handlers had a lot of fun.

Maverick, as champion, has every reason to wag his tail.

“He is the 2015 Canadian Police Canine Association champion,” said Gunderson, a sergeant with the Regina Police Service. “It wasn’t a runaway. It was a tight finish to the end.”