Winnipeg police mourn death of K-9 unit dog Riley

Winnipeg police say one of their canine officers, Riley, has died following a battle with cancer.

"On Tuesday, Oct. 6, Police Service Dog Riley, Badge No. 52, lost a valiant battle with cancer," Patrol Sgt. Walter Antoniuk, a supervisor and trainer with the canine unit, told reporters on Friday.

Riley, a Belgian Malinois, was born on July 11, 2010, and joined the canine unit in the spring of 2012 with his partner, Const. Jeff Katcher.

Riley was a general patrol dog, trained in detecting narcotics, and he was was part of the tactical support team.

Antoniuk said Riley was diagnosed in May and had three tumours surgically removed.

"However, it was an aggressive form of cancer and it came back and metastasized into his organs," he said.

"He was given a general diagnosis of  anywhere from four months to two years to live, and it actually came quicker than we expected, so I would say it was a sudden passing."

Riley's father, Judge, died in January, nine months after he was retired from the police service.

Riley sired a litter of puppies that was featured in a series of YouTube videos produced by the police service.

Antoniuk said Katcher will start training one of the puppies in spring.