Photos of Paskal courtesy Alberta RCMP
HIGH RIVER, Alta. — A four-year-old German Shepherd Police Service Dog named Paskal was seriously injured Tuesday night while assisting High River RCMP during the search for an armed robbery suspect.
Paskal was born at the RCMP Police Dog Services (PDS) training facility in Innisfail. He began working with his handler, Cpl. Paul Cook, in the fall of 2023.
On June 16, at approximately 10:20 p.m., High River RCMP responded to a report of an armed robbery at a local business. A masked suspect entered the premises armed with a firearm, stole cash from the register, and fled the scene on a bicycle. Officers quickly established containment and called in additional resources, including Okotoks RCMP, the Emergency Response Team (ERT), and Police Dog Services.
While ERT and PDS teams were tracking a possible suspect, Paskal was seriously injured. Cpl. Cook immediately recognized the severity of the injury and rushed the dog to a veterinarian in Calgary for emergency treatment.
“Police dogs are indispensable members of our policing teams,” said the RCMP in a media release. “Their exceptional abilities help keep communities safe, assist officers in high-risk situations, and play a critical role in operational success. Our thought and prayers are with Cpl. Cook and Pascal, and we wish for a speedy recovery.”
High River RCMP is continuing to investigate the armed robbery.
If you have any information regarding this crime, please call High River RCMP at 403-652-2357, or your local police.
If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store.
