CELEBRATING POLICE DOGS

Retired Police Dog Bear

Sussex Police – Lifesaver Award

In December 2024 we named German Shepherd RPD Bear as the third recipient of our Lifesaver Award.

He received the award after saving a man’s life while out on a birthday dog walk with his owners, both retired police dog handlers, in East Sussex, in November 2024.

Bear, who retired from Sussex Police in 2020, was enjoying his first walk out since having major surgery to remove two tumours on his 12th birthday when he led his owners to a vulnerable man.

Police were searching for the man who’d been reported missing on the cold, wet day and, with darkness drawing in, officers feared he wouldn’t survive the night. Bear led the man to safety and reunited him with his family.

POLICE DOG ZYLA

Leicestershire Police – Outstanding Bravery Award

In August 2024, we issued the Outstanding Bravery Award posthumously to PD Zyla; who died in the line of duty in July 2024.

Two-year-old German Shepherd Zyla had pursued a suspect into water when she became unresponsive and later died at the vets.

Her heartbroken handler collected the award on her behalf, describing her as ‘the perfect partner, the perfect family member’.

PC ANDREW KENYON AND Police dog EDDIE

Greater Manchester Police – Rising Star Award

Three-year-old German Shepherd PD Eddie and his handler, PC Andrew Kenyon, were named as the 2022 Rising Stars after more than 60 arrests in the first 18 months of their careers.

Some of PD Eddie’s highlights include defending PC Kenyon’s colleague who was being attacked with a crowbar by armed robbers and preventing a burglar from turning on his handler with a hammer.

Nominating the pair, Greater Manchester Police said they were ‘flourishing’ and well deserving of the award.

PC LINDA MCBRIDE AND Police dog LUNA

Police Scotland – Lifesaver Award

A Scottish police dog who saved 38 lives during her incredible eight-year career was named as our Lifesaver Award winner in 2022.

Ten-year-old German Shepherd Luna – now retired and supported by our Foundation – was a particularly skilled tracking dog and had many successes in locating vulnerable, high-risk missing persons who may not have survived without her help.

PC McBride said she was ‘blown away’ when Luna was named as the winner.

PC CHRIS MCDONOUGH AND Police dog TORO

Cheshire Police – Crime Fighting Duo Award

Dutch herder PD Toro, three, and his partner, PC Chris McDonough, were recipients of our Crime Fighting Duo Award in 2022.

Their Chief Inspector Simon Newell – who nominated the pair – said they were a ‘formidable crimefighting duo with an incredible wrap sheet’.

They’re well-known within the force for their tracking achievements from finding missing persons and runaway suspects, as well as supporting the firearms team, and securing the safety of world leaders at the 2021 G7 Summit. 

PC GRACE FEAVYOUR AND Police dog ASTRO

Leicestershire Police – Outstanding Bravery Award

Four-year-old German Shepherd Astro was a clear winner of the Outstanding Bravery Award in 2022.

The brave police dog leapt to the defence of his handler, PC Grace Feavyour, when they responded to an incident to arrest a man and he was injured as he protected her when the situation became heated.

PC Feavyour said: “You can’t train for a real-life situation like that. Since then, I feel safer going out to work; I know that he’ll back me up no matter what.”

PC IAN SWEENEY AND police dog LOGAN

Humberside Police – Lifetime Achievement Award

Retired police dog Logan received the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022 after his commitment to service with Humberside Police.

The eight-year-old German Shepherd never missed a day’s work during his seven-year career – even after he was shot three times in the face.

He was described as a ‘natural’ police dog and PC Sweeney said he’d never known a dog like him. Logan retired from service just a few months before picking up the award.

PC DARREN SEWELL AND POLICE DOG JURA

Leicestershire Police – Special Recognition Award

PC Darren Sewell dedicated his life to training and working police dogs, and continued his vital work even during cancer treatment.

He was diagnosed in 2020 with Stage 4 blood cancer and he embarked on intensive treatment, while still caring for his own police dogs and retired police dogs, and bringing on his new puppy, PD Jura.

Thankfully PC Sewell’s treatment went well and he later returned to work to handle PD Jura.

PC MEGAN WEST AND POLICE DOG CALLI

Kent Police – Lifesaver Award

A young, fresh police dog was named 2021’s Lifesaver after her inquisitive nature led her to save a man’s life.

Two-year-old German Shepherd was helping PC West search for a vulnerable missing man when she spotted him in the dense woodland, barking to alert the officers and leading them to him. He was handing from a tree.

Officers managed to free him, performed first aid and saved his life; all thanks to Police Dog Calli.

PC paul hopley and pOLICE DOG stark

West Midlands Police – Outstanding Bravery Award

PD Stark was a clear winner of our inaugural bravery award after he was beaten, hit and slashed with a machete more than 20 times but refused to release the suspect he’d detained.

Dramatic video footage from the call-out in 2019 showed the moment Belgian Malinois cross PD Stark  was attacked as his handler PC Paul Hopley looked on, horrified.

PD Stark needed emergency vet treatment but returned to work four weeks later. The teenager who attacked him was sentenced under Finn’s Law for causing unnecessary suffering to a service animals.

PC KELLY WALKER AND POLICE DOG BART

Cheshire Police – Crime Fighting Duo Award

Seven-year-old PD Bart and veteran officer PC Kelly Walker were named as our first ever Crime Fighting Duo in 2021 for their commitment to the job.

As well as their achievements on duty, the duo also wanted to help improve safety for police dogs and were chosen to work with a specialist firm to help design, develop and trial a new body armour.

PD Bart retired the year after he was named winner of this award and he’s now supported by our Foundation.

PC colin nash and pOLICE DOG elvis

City of London Police – Rising Star Award

Two-year-old Labrador PD Elvis achieved a lot in his first year of service, helping to rid London’s streets of drugs and knives, as well as helping his handler back to health after a car accident.

PC Colin Nash described Elvis as ‘one of the best’ and was thrilled to accept the Rising Star Award in 2021.

As well as fighting crime, the pair are also passionate about inspiring the next generation and visit schools and community groups to educate young people about drugs.

PC sean foster and POLICE DOG nala

Northamptonshire Police – Lifetime Achievement Award

German Shepherd retired police dog Nala and her handler, PC Sean Foster, were given our inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021 for their dedication to service.

Nala was a dedicated police dog and had some incredible achievements during her career, despite many challenges. In 2016 she was hit around the face with a crowbar by went on to track two suspects hiding under a caravan.

And just before her retirement, in 2021, she detained a man and held him despite him trying to choke her.