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The Edmonton Police Service now has its first human remains detection dog, two-year-old Hunter.

Staff Sgt. Tom Bechthold and his four-legged partner completed the training July 4, said police in a Thursday release.

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“The training was very similar to how we train our dogs to detect drugs or explosives,” said Bechthold. “It involves first teaching them how to search, and then introducing new odours one at a time and getting the dog imprinted on each odour.”

When required, Hunter will be called in to help the missing persons unit and the homicide section.

A number of the city police canine unit’s general police service dogs are also trained to detect explosives and drugs. While the canine unit would like to boost its ranks with another human remains detection dog, Hunter will be the only one for now, say police.

City police have had a dog unit since 1967.

The service currently has about 14 general purpose police dogs. The dogs were involved in 96 use-of-force incidents last year, up from 85 the year before.