Retired Nottinghamshire Police Dogs to be looked after in retirement.

Nottinghamshire police dogs are to be given their own pensions worth up to £1,500 each, which comes into play next month.The scheme is the first of its kind in the UK and will ensure the animals have medical bills paid for them after they retire which, in my opinion, has been long overdue. It is however limited to £500 per year for veterinary expenses for maximum of 3 years.

Nottinghamshire Police officers including those who work with the force's 26 dogs welcomed the move – saying they see the dogs as fellow cops.

Re-homing of retired Police Dogs

I have been asked my views of the re-homing of retired Police Dogs. 

There is no problem with Police Dogs retiring to the care and comfort of the home of the handler. When this does happen, ownership, rights and responsibilities are transferred. However to re-home such dogs in to a pet environment with another family is, in my opinion, fraught with ‘danger’. These highly trained dogs, without proper supervision, can instinctively react to circumstances that would make them highly dangerous to the public. There can be no litigation or blame held against the manner of training or the previous Police ownership.
It would be no defence to say they are a ‘retired Police Dog’, more an admission of having a dog ‘out of control’.

Sadly euthanasia is quite often necessary and justifiable.

The Sherwood Forest Police Dog Competition

Sad to say but this Competition dedicated to the memory of Pc Ged Walker has been cancelled due to lack of entries

The Sherwood Forest Police Dog Competition

The Sherwood Forest Police Dog Competition will be held in the grounds of Thorseby Hall Estate, in Newark, Nottinghamshire, on Sunday 22 September 2013.

The event, hosted by Nottinghamshire Police dog section is held in memory of PC 1570 Ged Walker who died in service.

The competition will run from 8.30am to 5pm. Entry is free and parking is available in the grounds.

Diederik Coetzee

News quote

'Diederik Coetzee has been forced to retire on medical grounds after joining the force in 1999.

He served as the beat officer on Mansfield’s Ladybrook Estate.

The supercop made a national record of 309 arrests in ten months in 2005 earning him the title and he has also been awarded for his bravery with numerous awards.

In 2006, Mr Coetzee again made the headlines for topping the national record of arrests in 12 months by ‘nicking’ 404 criminals.'

My best wishes to Diederik and his family and I do hope he fulfils his ambition to keep working, it is just a shame that, according to the Press, Nottinghamshire Police are doing nothing to assist him in his quest.

Derbyshire Police Dog Section

More historical photos, with thanks to Don Batterham

Left is Pc. Bob ALLEN with PD  Tosca  - right is Pc Pete Hallam with Pd  Shane.

Scene of armed robbery at Staveley circa 1977

 Left to right    Pc Hallam with PD Shane   Pc Les Newton with Czar - Pc Derek Heal with Digger - Pc Derek  Woolley with PD  Carl.

Search of murder scene Alderwasley circa 1974

Pc Pete Hallam and PD Shane, mid 80's

Police Dog Section cutbacks

It is unusual for me to enter the political spectrum on this 'blog' but having read that Police Dog Sections are all falling under the axe, latterly South Yorkshire, I feel I must agree with many who say, "Don't look at the front line, look at higher ranks". Does the Police Service need so many highly paid supervisors? Duplicitous ranks i.e Chief Inspectors, Chief Superintendents, Assistant Chief Constables coupled with the likes in the Civillian employees.
Police Dogs provide an excellent service and have always been undervalued.

John Rebaudi

Reproduced with the kind permission of John Rebaudi with the forward by Don Batterham

 Pc 260 John  Rebaudi with Notts Police Dog Wotan..      John joined the Derbyshire Dog Section in 1969 on promotion from Nottingham  County Police.    He took charge in the early years of amalgamation of the Derbyshire and Borough Police.   He  introduced Night training along with  other good  sound training   methods.  He left the section after some years on promotion by which time it had increased in size.

Eastern Regional Champions trophy for 1973 Pc John Coulson and Sam, Notts Police

Thanks to John for this one

Bob Collins

Many police dog handlers will remember Bob as the saddler & leather worker who, for almost 65 years, supplied police dog sections all over the country with the leads, collars, bite sleeves and all the other bits and pieces required.  Bob and his wife Kath always had a warm and friendly welcome for any police dog handler when they called in to 'Rec Road' to collect their orders.

Bob died peacefully in his sleep after a long illness at 3.15am this morning, (14/6/13), he was 88 and a half years of age and continued working until shortly before he died.  

Funeral arrangement have not yet been arranged but will be posted on the Surrey Police Retired Comrades site,(http://blog.old-and-bold.info) when known.

Bob's wife Kath passed away three or four years ago but his son Robin continues the work Bob was part of for so many years.

Another sad loss to the police dog family.

I agree and thanks to Denis, retired Surrey Police Dog Sgt for this information. My condolences to his family.

Police Dog Rossi, Nottinghamshire Police

Rossi the Nottinghamshire Police dog disarmed axeman

A man who drunkenly brandished an axe and threatened to hurt a police dog has been jailed.

Rossi the dog jumped 8ft (2.4m) and grabbed the axe from Adrian Dowdall, then dropped the axe and held his arm to stop him getting away.

Dowdall, 36, of Bentinck Close, Boughton, Nottinghamshire, has been jailed for 160 days

He pleaded guilty at Nottingham Crown Court to having a bladed article in a public place.

The court heard Dowdall had drunk between 10 and 15 cans of lager at a friend's house the previous afternoon.PC Rogers was patrolling on 24 November when he was asked to attend Bentinck Close, in Boughton, at about 05:15 GMT.

"He made threats to harm the dog. He kept coming towards me and held it aloft in his right hand in a threatening manner."

PC Rogers then deployed Rossi.

"The dog has leapt up, taken hold of the axe, spat the axe out and detained the male... got hold of him by his left arm," he said.

As explained to me, "This dog may look like a goat but has the courage and teeth of a lion".

Ford Cortina Mk3 2000cc Police patrol car

Couldn't resist putting this on the blog. Mansfield Police Station yard 1973, my previous posting (Traffic Dept.) before going to the dogs!  Thanks to Tony Parkin for this one.

Just a shame it isn't a photo RNN 626L I couldn't break it. I tried everything so that I could swap it for the new Triumph Dolomite Sprint and didn't succeed! If Ford had known I'm sure they could have used my efforts in their advertising.
In the background is the petrol pump. To issue petrol you had to go into the station, get the key for the pump. Draw the petrol, lock it back up, take the key back and sign the petrol issue sheet. Because so many Officers forgot to take the key back, it was finally secured to a chair leg. The biggest key ring on record.

Sherwood Lodge Nottingham

Sherwood Lodge, prior to demolition to make way for the new Police Headquarters

Police Dog Team commended.

More than a hundred officers and staff and a police dog have been recognised for the part they played in responding to the violent disorder which hit Nottingham in August 2011.

The commendations ceremony took place at the Albert Hall, in Nottingham, just down the road from Canning Circus police station, which was petrol bombed during the riot and violent disorder.

Chief Constable Chris Eyre was joined by the Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire, Sir John Peace, to commend the commitment, cooperation and sheer determination displayed throughout Operation Constantia.

Individual awards, as well as team commendations, were presented including:

• PC Leigh Whitehead and Police Dog Ritchie – who were involved in many of the arrests.

Nice to see a Police Dog and Handler commended!

William Dobb Derbyshire Police

Couldn't resist posting this one.

William DOBB born Eakring Notts 1875.  He joined Derbyshire Constabulary in Jan 1900 and was kept on to serve through the war years. 

This photo comes from 1902/03 a real piece of history from Derbyshire, although once again nothing to do with Police Dogs other then the genealogy of Don Batterham (dog handler retired), thanks to him for this!

Dogging

The introduction to my book, 'With Courage and Trust' has once more been brought to my notice for all the wrong reasons. Yes, I still have to laugh!
In those days Dogging meant competition 'dog trials' and I suppose we had many gay or should I say happy days.

National Police Dog Trial 2013 - result

An Avon and Somerset Constabulary police officer won the top prize at the 53rd National Police Dog Trials in South Wales.

PC Nick Dalrymple (right)  alongside police dog Aden, achieved the highest score in the championship at 851, scooping the Jordan Shield.

The pair competed alongside 20 top police dogs and handlers from across forces in England, Wales Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Police Gala Day Epperstone Manor 1994

Dog demonstration

1960's Police Dogs

BBC4 looks back   see link  http://www.bbc.co.uk/i/b01qhl0b/
See also direct link (to left of page)

Fifth National Police Dog Trials 1962

Thanks to Don Batterham for these