West Vancouver Police Const. Jeff Guiel (right) dove into the Capilano River last Wednesday in full uniform to save police dog Stryker from drowning. He and Stryker’s handler Cpl. Jag Johal (left) were on the trail of a suspect when the dog got away from Johal and went into the river. Guiel, a former pro baseball player, grew up in Langley.

By Sam Cooper
Black Press

Jun 20 2007

In his former pro baseball career,

West Vancouver Police Department Const. Jeff Guiel was used to saving the game with his bat, but last week he saved a life with his swimming stroke.

Guiel was born in North Vancouver and grew up in Langley, played in the Toronto Blue Jays’ farm system before joining the West Vancouver police force this year. Last Wednesday, he dove into a swift current in the Capilano River to save police service tracking dog Stryker.

Guiel and his partner, dog handler Cpl. Jag Johal, were tracking a suspect in a wooded area beside the river when Johal tripped and lost Stryker’s leash. Stryker continued the chase and leapt into the water, but was swept sideways in a torrent and became submerged.

Johal shouted to Guiel that the dog was drowning and Guiel immediately dove into the water with his full uniform and duty belt, including his gun.

The dog was swept into a deep pool and Guiel went underwater to catch hold of him and push him back to shore.

“I was kind of choked up when (Guiel) saved Stryker, he’s part of my family,” Johal said at a press conference Monday. “I couldn’t thank (Guiel) enough. Had he waited a few more seconds, Stryker would have gotten swept downstream.”

Johal explained that Stryker, a German shepherd with seven years service on the force, is a great swimmer, but succumbed to an abnormally strong springtime river current.

Guiel said as soon as he brought Stryker back to land, the dog picked up the suspect’s scent and was ready to continue the chase. After another 30 minutes, Johal and Guiel called off the unsuccessful tracking mission.

Guiel explained his decision to dive in after Stryker was made in a split second — and he’d do the same thing again in a similar situation. He said he was shocked by how heavy his full gear got in the water, but he never feared for his own safety.

He explained his athletic background was a factor in the rescue, but only to the extent that all police officers have to be physically fit. And although he’s used to making big plays in baseball, he said the feeling doesn’t compare to saving Stryker.

“It’s totally different, that’s just a game,” Guiel said. “This is a different level.”

Guiel’s WVPD colleagues have requested that he be commended for his heroic actions, WVPD Cpl. Fred Harding said.

Guiel’s brother Aaron is also a ball player — he played with the New York Yankees and is now playing professional baseball in Tokyo, Japan.