Windsor Police Service welcomes newest members K9s Ghost and Link

The Windsor Police Service on Wednesday welcomed two new four-legged members to its K9 Unit.

The two dogs Ghost and Link were promoted to the K9 Unit after successfully completing all the requirements of a 15-week intensive training course.

Windsor police Chief Jason Bellaire joined other members of the force at a welcome ceremony for Ghost, a 17-month-old German Shepherd originally from Holland, and Link, a 19-month-old Belgian Malinois originally from Hungary.

"It's fair to say that our dogs are some of Windsor's most popular officers," he said.

"We see that day in and day out, and each time they assist in an arrest, they generate a significant level of public interest and most certainly admiration."

Ghost is partnered with Const. Ken Meloche while Link is partnered with Const. Garret Crichton.

The dogs have been trained to apprehend suspects, search for missing people, detect illegal narcotics and explosives, and help keep their handlers and the public safe in high-risk situations.

Ghost replaces veteran police dog Hasko, who retires after eight years of exemplary service to the community. Hasko, an 11-year-old Belgian Malinois, will live out his retirement with Const. Ken Meloche.

"These dogs and their handlers demonstrated exceptional skill and dedication throughout their training, and we look forward to seeing their positive impact on our community," said Insp. Robert Wilson.

"We also extend our heartfelt thanks to Hasko for his many years of service and wish him a very happy retirement."