"The newest police dog has the skills to sniff out firearms and illicit drugs… (and) also has the additional gift of helping to heal members of the Service family,” noted a Facebook post on one-year-old springer spaniel named Garda in memory of 29-year-old Const Darius Garda. A 51 Division officer with the Toronto police’s marine unit, Darius took his life on February 3, 2016 after struggling with mental health issues, reported globalnews.ca (see "The caring constable,” Zoroastrians Abroad, Parsiana, March 21, 2016).
Garda family (standing) with Const Andrew Watts (sitting) and
dog named after Const Darius Garda (right)
When officers at 51 Division were considering ways to honor Darius, knowing his love for dogs and his dedication to the police force, they raised $ 3,700 and with permission from the family acquired the springer spaniel and named her Garda. "It’s a positive thing and it reminds us of him,” said Detective Sergeant Anne-Marie Bishop.
"When they wanted to do something so meaningful and so special, it made us, as a family know that my brother will always remain in the hearts and memories,” stated Darius’ sister Dilnaz Garda who with her parents, husband and children was invited by the Police Dog Services to witness Garda receive her badge in recognition of being ready for the road. Besides playing with the dog they also had a chance to talk to her handler Const Andrew Watts. They saw Garda being edged along a fenceline and ramp but sitting determinedly when she located hashish and gunpowder. Like all springer spaniels she is full of energy but when she gets to searching, is calm and works an area with ease, noted a report carried in Parsi Khabar, June 23, 2017.
"It just feels like my brother is still policing through Garda and still making a difference in the community,” stated Dilnaz who works alongside the Toronto Police Service to support the mental health of Service members through Toronto Beyond the Blue (TBB), an independent nonprofit organization, dedicated to serving families of Toronto police officers and civilian members. "Spouses and children of law enforcement face a unique set of circumstances that lends itself to the need for emotional support, better awareness, training and tools to enable police families to thrive with their roles as a support system for their police officer,” notes the TBB website. Described as "a driving force” for TBB, Dilnaz "has risen above tragic circumstances and continues to be a beacon of strength and courage for her friends, family and community that one can’t help but admire those qualities… Dilnaz and her husband, Const Danny Mavrou, are determined to normalize conversations around mental health,” acknowledges the website of Calgary Beyond the Blue.