Former 2004 Olympic Team member Jeff Guiel of
Guiel, who is now a police officer with the West Vancouver Police Force, was in pursuit of a suspect when he called Cpl. Jag Johal and his dog, Stryker.
Johal was holding the dog’s leash when his slipped and fell and the German shepherd lept into the river’s current.
“He was trying to come back to shore,” says Guiel in an interview with The Province, “but everytime he came close to shore, the current would push him further away.”
“It wasn’t really any kind of thought process… I just really never thought about it,” adds Guiel.
The former Olympian dove into the water and was able to grab the dog’s leash and bring back the 35-kilogram German shepherd back to shore. Stryker was able to pick up the scent and kept tracking the suspect, but the man got away.
“I was kind of choked up when Jeff saved him,” says Johal. “I couldn’t thank him enough.”
Guiel started with the force last month. Stryker is a five year veteran of the department.
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