The new North Bay Police Service mascot has already started patrolling the community.
In February, the Service created a "Name the Mascot" competition involving elementary schools in North Bay.
The service announced the contest's winner and unveiled the name "Radar" at a recent North Bay Battalion game.
See related: North Bay Police asking kids to name their new mascot
New North Bay Police Chief Daryl Longworth hopes a new mascot helps create a comfortable connection between the police and the community.
"The more ways we can interact with the public, and I think the mascot crosses generations, crosses dimensions," explains Longworth. "It is a very positive representative of our organization."
Longworth joined Radar to celebrate on April 11 as the Police Service hosted a pizza lunch at St. Luke Catholic Elementary School where Ethan, who came up with the name Radar, goes to school as a third grader.
"I can tell you I had a pizza party with a group of elementary school kids last week where Radar attended," recalls Longworth.
"It was a great time with the kids and Radar walked out in the hallway and the kids were just all over him. They were just latching onto his leg so I saw the value of that small little thing that we were able to do and the positive impact it has especially on that younger generation.
"I think Radar can be the positive face of the police organization in the community out at parades, at hockey games, and I think it is going to be a huge hit and it already has been a huge hit."
