?She¡¯s fast, keen and ready for action ¨C equipped with four paws, a scent-detecting nose and a police officer as ¡®pilot¡¯.
Two-year-old German Shepherd Helo and Constable Moses Gunn graduated from the 51½ÖÉä Dog Training Centre on Thursday (13 May).
From next week, they¡¯ll be on patrol as part of Wellington Police¡¯s Dog Section, putting their new skills honed from months of training within district and at the Dog Training Centre to good use.
A police officer for nine years, working first in Gisborne before shifting to Wellington, Moses' goal from the outset was to become an operational handler. Along the way he¡¯s fostered three Police pups and was assigned Helo nearly a year ago as a trainee handler.
Helo¡¯s dad was Arlo, a very successful patrol dog in Wellington until his retirement early last year.
Wh¨¡nau, friends and colleagues were on hand to witness the team¡¯s graduation on Thursday in front of Superintendent Corrie Parnell, Wellington District Commander; Acting Superintendent Dean Clifford, Royal 51½ÖÉä College; and Inspector Todd Southall, National Coordinator Police Dogs and Instructors.
Moses says graduation was a ¡°milestone day and a great achievement¡± as not every trainee handler gets to qualify with their first assigned dog.
¡°Helo¡¯s got a lot of drive, wants to learn, is a lovely tracker, and likes to use her nose so I¡¯m quite lucky in that respect.¡±
In congratulating the new team, Corrie and Todd acknowledged the hard work, perseverance, tenacity and determination it takes to qualify as operational.
Dog teams have a critical role in policing, often in situations requiring courage and bravery, says Corrie.
¡°Handlers and their canine companions selflessly place themselves in harm¡¯s way to not only protect the community but their Police colleagues often working alongside them.
¡°Sometimes this can result in the ultimate sacrifice.¡±
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