K9 camera to give Winnipeg police new eyes on crime

A made-in-Manitoba camera, used on the mission to kill Osama bin Laden, is to become a new tool for Winnipeg police officers and their canine partners.

The 'K9 Storm Intruder' is a light-weight camera designed by former Winnipeg police dog handler Jim Slater.

It is worn by the dog, and allows officers to check out high-risk situations from a distance.

Slater's business, K9 Storm, devises hi-tech body armour for police and military dogs and is based in Winnipeg.

Some of his equipment was used on the Navy SEAL mission to track down the al-Qaeda leader in 2011.

CBC got an inside look at how the Winnipeg Police Tactical team will use the device.

Patrol Sargent Scott Taylor said it is mounted on the dog's back and could make the difference between life and death for officers.

"The dog gives us the ability to know the suspect is there, without us ever having to expose ourselves to that suspect," he said.

Taylor demonstrated the camera's effectiveness with his dog, Judge, with whom he's been working for a decade.

"See how he goes under door seams?," he said, as Judge checked out a room. "He's actually sniffing the seams."

Taylor said he and Judge have more than 600 arrests under their belt, but the camera will allow them to be even more effective, allowing Taylor to see the world from Judge's perspective, including the threat lurking around the corner.

Taylor said he knows it could cost Judge his life.

"I raised Judge from seven weeks old, so to me, I don't send him with the idea ... well whatever," his voice trailing off. "But if something goes wrong, it has to be him over one of our guys."

It's an outcome Taylor hopes he will never have to face.

The Winnipeg Police Service has purchased one camera, at a cost of $20,000. It comes with two monitors.

The money to pay for it won't come out of the police budget, but from the province's seizure of property paid for by the proceeds of crime under the Criminal Property Forfeiture Act.

Police expect to receive their new camera in the next week or so.