PVA Canine Service is Headed by:

Bio-Phil.jpgPhil Graham - Personal Bio

Employed as a trainer/instructor at the RCMP Police Dog Service Training Centre from 2005 to 2011, Phil has been directly responsible for training over 40 RCMP dog teams currently in service for the RCMP across Canada.  Training has included direct instruction of both the police dog handler and police service dogs in all of the operational profiles including person tracking, narcotics searching, explosives searching, crime scene/evidence searching, criminal apprehension/handler protection and operational obedience.  Additionally, Phil has been responsible for conducting the annual validation/re-certification process for operational police dog teams across Canada including specialty narcotics teams, explosives searching teams and for other non RCMP police agencies.  Other duties have included conducting remedial training for unsuccessful teams, assessments of operational capabilities of deficient teams and performing Senior Trainer oversight duties.

Phil has had extensive experience as an operational RCMP police dog handler since 1995.  Postings have included the NCO in charge of Comox Valley PDS, NCO in charge of Peace River PDS, second in charge of Surrey PDS, a general posting within Surrey PDS and operational policing in Prince George and with the Peel Regional Police Service in Toronto.  Phil has been recognized by both the Supreme Courts of Alberta and British Columbia as an Expert Witness for the provision of Police Service Dog Evidence.  Phil has handled full profile police service dogs operationally that have been narcotics or explosives cross trained and in addition to normal policing he has been involved in preparing for and policing of major events such as the G8 and Olympics.  He has also completed duties as an operational police mentor in Afghanistan.

Doug Hawkes - Personal Bio

Bio-Doug.jpgEmployed as a trainer/instructor at the RCMP Police Dog service Training Centre from 2008 to 2011, Doug has been directly responsible for training 18 RCMP dog teams currently in service across Canada.  Training has included direct instruction of both Police Dog Handlers and Police Service Dogs in all of the operational profiles including person tracking, narcotics searching, explosives searching, crime scene/evidence searching, criminal apprehension/handler protection and operational obedience.  Doug has been responsible for conducting the annual validations/re-certification process for operational police dog teams across Canada including specialty narcotics teams, explosives searching teams and outside police agencies.  Other duties have included conducting remedial training for unsuccessful teams, assessments of operational capabilities of deficient teams and performing Senior Trainer oversight duties.

Doug has had extensive experience as an operational dog handler since 1989.  Postings have included the NCO in charge of Red Deer PDS, NCO in charge of Grande Prairie PDS, second in charge of Chilliwack PDS as well as operational policing in Fort St. John and Penticton. Doug has been recognized by both the Supreme Courts of Alberta and British Columbia as an expert witness for the provision of police service dog evidence.  Doug has handled full profile police service dogs operationally that have been cross trained in narcotics searching.  In addition to regular policing functions he has also been involved in preparing for and policing of major events such as the G8 Summit and the Olympics.