Ben Madilynn
Dog Eko on parade
(Photo/Supplied)
New Zealand police
welcome seven patrol dog teams fresh from their graduation
today at the Police Dog Training Centre at
Trentham.
The handlers and their dogs were celebrated
in front of whānau and friends after extensive training
both in district and at the Dog Training Centre.
Some
of the teams will begin in their districts next week and
some have already started work.
Also in attendance
were several members of the New Zealand Police
executive.
Graduating from the police patrol dog
course are three are first-time handlers – two from
Wellington District and one from Hawke’s Bay.
The
four experienced handlers are from Auckland, Bay of Plenty,
Central and Canterbury Districts, one of which is graduating
with his fifth dog.
Assistant Commissioner Jill Rogers
congratulated them all.
“Congratulations to all the
teams – it’s a proud day for you all. This occasion marks
the end of formal training to become an operational team and
heralds the next step toward frontline
duties.
Although you will be out on the road, the
training does not stop, with further opportunities for you
and your dog to attend and qualify to join other specialist
squads with your dogs.
We constantly see the value you
add to frontline policing. You are also a vital component in
our Tactical Response Model, with support from other
specialists such as Armed Offenders Squad qualified
staff.
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Senior Sergeant Chris Best,
Practice Leader at the Dog Training Centre, says “There is
a huge amount of institutional knowledge and expertise held
with your dog section supervisors in districts, which has
helped to optimise the performance of the dog teams and
their operational capability.
To our
three first-time handlers, well done on becoming an
operational team.
Our new graduates are a significant
boost to our front-line capacity and we are proud to have
them join us.
And congratulations again to our four
other experienced handlers.
Well done everyone on
graduating today, you’ll all be excellent assets in your
districts and
communities.”
