Police dog Leo is visiting Mount Isa for the next few months and he is being trained to sniff out cannabis in the north west. 

The four-year-old german shepherd is man’s worst friend if you are a drug dealer.

Leo and his handler Acting Sgt Steve Lindsey have been sent up from Ipswich to relieve  Mount Isa Dog Squad Sergeant Mick Silman.

“Leo is being trained in cannabis detection which is exciting because it is something you have not had up here for a while,” Sgt Lindsey said.

Mount Isa lost its former drug detection dog Flynn, earlier this year, to an aggressive form of cancer which spread from his stomach and into his lungs.

Leo will be continuing somen of Flynn’s work during the next few months.

Sgt Lindsey said Leo is a workaholic and has been hitting the streets of Mount Isa almost every night since their arrival. 

“We use the dogs every night because you do not know what you are going to come across,” he said. 

“Tracking is our bread and butter and Leo offers frontline support for general duty police.

“His keen sense of smell always suprises and amazes me,” Sgt Lindsey said.  

“Sometimes we think this cannot be right then sure enough he leads us right to an offender.”

Loyal Leo is also trained to attack and take down offenders if he feels his handler is in danger. 

Dogs have become a vital part of policing across Queensland. 

There seems to be a police pooch for everything these days – from currency sniffers and fire finders to tracking dogs and gun searchers. 

They even have dogs to help identify feral animal infestations.

When hardworking Leo is recovering from gruelling night shifts he likes to chill out in the yard or play with Sgt Lindsey. 

“He lives for his ball and likes going for swims,” he said. 

Sgt Lindsey said the pair were excited to explore the region during their secondment to the north west. 

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