Mr. Moosey leaves the company of North Bay city police today and heads to the North Bay OPP where he will spend about a week with the provincial officers.
Mr. Moosey is a stuffed moose that’s become a symbol of keeping police officers safe.
North Bay city Police Chief Shawn Devine says a police officer in Pennsylvania was given the stuffed animal by a young girl after the officer stopped the car she was in for a traffic violation.
The young girl was five when her mother was pulled over but the officer let her off with a warning.
While the officer and mother talked, the youngster got his attention and said she wanted to give him her toy moose because policing is dangerous and she wanted him to have something to keep him safe.
“The officer strapped Mr. Moosey in the front seat of his patrol car and drove around with him,” Devine said.
Devine says the officer then decided to share Mr. Moosey with other police services and so began what has now become a worldwide tour of the stuffed moose ending up with various police agencies.
“He’s been all over the United States,” Devine said.
“I have in my hands a notebook with hundreds of (shoulder) flashes from police services across the United States.”
Devine says over the course of travelling across the U.S. the moose ended up with the FBI and he now has his own personal identification with the federal police.
“Mr. Moosey has a paw print (in place of a fingerprint) and he’s been provided with a number from the Federal Bureau of Investigation,” Devine said.
Mr. Moosey travels in a pelican case which includes the notebook that has the police flashes plus numerous police pins on his fur and pictures.
The North Bay police were able to add their own photos when the service hosted the flag raising ceremony of the 50th year of Special Olympics and various police personnel from surrounding areas were present in the city.
Devine says it’s impressive that a five-year-old child recognizes “there are inherent dangers in policing and emergency services”.
He says the gesture has taken on a life of its own.
“Mr. Moosey kind of represents that connection between policing and the community and especially that great connection between youth and that young people shouldn’t be afraid of policing and this brings us together,” said Devine.
Mr. Moosey is now touring Canada and Devine says he’s already made stops in B.C., Alberta, Ottawa and Smiths Falls just to name a few communities.
The stuffed moose has also made stops at military bases as well as stayed with fire, ambulance personnel and Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry staff.
To follow Mr. Moosey’s world tour, click here.