Most outstanding police dogs celebrated at Thin Blue Paw Awards

Seven awards were handed out at a special ceremony at the Kennel Club, in London, on Wednesday (September 24), hosted by TV presenter Radzi Chinyanganya and organised by the Thin Blue Paw Foundation.

The charity holds the annual event to recognise and celebrate the incredible work of serving and retired police dogs, and their handlers, across the UK.

Chairman Kieran Stanbridge said: “The Thin Blue Paw Foundation was set up to celebrate, protect and support both working and retired police dogs across the UK.

“Every day, police dogs and their handlers put their lives on the line to protect the public and fight crime.

“We launched the Thin Blue Paw Awards to celebrate these incredible dogs and everything they achieve in the line of duty, from the rookie rising stars who have started their careers with a bang, to the retiring dogs with years of finds and arrests under their collars.

“This year we celebrated our fifth birthday, so it feels fitting to have such an incredible roster of award winners who represent the very finest in policing.

“We’re very proud to be able to honour them all, and celebrate their amazing achievements.”

Police Dog Team of the Year – Staffordshire Police

Staffordshire Police’s dog unit (pictured) has been honoured with the Police Dog Team of the Year Award for its work helping control violence at a demonstration in Tamworth.

The team – made up of commander PC Scott Tatton, PC Craig Neeson and PD Kev, PC Leah Smith and PD Bones, PC Samuel Jones and PD Vixen, PC Luke Nixon and PD Maddie, PC Ruth Jones and PD Ebony and PC Steve Smith with PD Delta – was recognised after its commitment and bravery during the violence on August 4, 2024.

They were instrumental in regaining control of a large crowd which gathered for eight hours outside a hotel. During the disorder, the handlers and dogs were attacked, kicked, and pelted with bricks and fireworks.

Six-year-old Dutch Herder PD Vixen suffered a cut to her head after being kicked and hit by a brick, while Belgian Malinois PD Kev, eight, and German Shepherd PD Bones, three, suffered burns when fireworks were thrown at them.

PC Leah Smith, who handles PD Bones, said: “Having fireworks hurled at us was one of the scariest situations I’ve experienced. We couldn’t escape the situation as we knew we needed to protect the front line. A firework hit my arm and exploded which felt like I was on fire, burning my skin and causing a bruise.”

PC Ruth Jones handles four-year-old German Shepherd PD Ebony and said: “This deployment was one of the most intense and challenging experiences of my career. It was a day of extreme hostility that tested every aspect of our training, teamwork, and resilience.

“Our entire team came together; the resilience and professionalism was incredible and I feel privileged and proud to have stood alongside them that day. That collective effort allowed us to protect the public and demonstrated the true strength of our police dog family.”

Rising Star Award – PD Louie and PC Dan Cuthbertson (Durham/Tyne and Wear)

Three-year-old Springer Spaniel PD Louie won the Rising Star Award, alongside his handler PC Dan Cuthbertson, after finding crucial evidence in a tragic car crash in which two people – including an eight-month-old baby – died.

The case was even more devastating as the victims were known to PC Cuthbertson, and had been at his wedding just a few months earlier.

PD Louie was rescued after being found abandoned on the streets of Gateshead and taken in by Durham Constabulary to become one of the force’s first digital detection dogs.

The duo were just six months into the role when they were called, on May 31, 2024, to the A1M in Durham. Eight-month-old Zackary Blades and his aunt, Karlene Warner, died at the scene after their car was hit by another.

PC Cuthbertson, 32, from Spennymoor, was on duty when he was called by family to inform him of the death of his relative, Karlene, and baby Zackary. Unaware of his personal connection to the victims, the duo was dispatched to the scene to help locate evidence.

PC Cuthbertson said: “No matter what job you do, you always give your all and want to get results but when it’s so personal, it means everything.

“The scene was in tatters. Louie was so focused and worked around all the difficulties the scene posed. He didn’t put a paw wrong.

“I noticed a slight change in Louie’s behaviour as he worked through an area of thick undergrowth on the verge and then he froze, showing me his passive indication of a find.”

PD Louie found a mobile phone which revealed the driver – who had already been found to be over the drink-drive limit – was repeatedly making calls and sending text messages throughout his journey right up until the collision.

He’d taken a photo less than half a second before the impact showing his speedometer at 141mph and in the background of the picture, the victim’s car could be seen.

The driver was jailed for 17 years.

Outstanding Bravery Award – PD Yoiko and PC Tom Marsden (Humberside)

PD Yoiko, four, was named winner of the Outstanding Bravery Award after running into a burning building and defending his handler, PC Tom Marsden, from a man wielding a shovel.

Humberside Police general purpose dog PD Yoiko – who was bred in Holland before moving to the UK to become a police dog – and PC Marsden were called to Hull on July 1, 2024 after a man locked himself in a flat and was threatening officers.

PC Marsden said: “The man was on a rampage; he was braced against the wall, holding the shovel like a baseball bat ready to take your head off and he took a swing at one of the officers.

“It was chaos; there was glass everywhere and it was really smoky because he’d set light to a curtain and pieces of furniture.

“He’d shut himself in a room and barricaded the door with a bed frame. It was pitch black and the room was filled with smoke, you couldn’t see a thing. I asked him to come out or I’d send in Yoiko and he shouted: ‘I’ll f**king kill your dog’.

“He was there ready to hit me and took a swing but, before I had a chance to do anything, Yoiko did his job; leapt up, put his paws on his chest and bit him in the stomach. He brought the shovel down onto Yoiko’s back but I was able to block it with my hand.

“He was so brave and did such a great job. He got a double-cheeseburger from McDonald’s afterwards!”

The man was charged with multiple offences, including assaulting emergency workers, and sentenced to four years in prison.

Lifetime Achievement Award – RPD Fiji (Surrey/West Sussex)

Belgian Malinois RPD Fiji, 12, was named winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award, following a six-year career as a general purpose dog with Surrey Police.

She joined the force in 2013 as a four-month-old puppy after being rescued when her owner tragically took their own life, and was partnered with handler PC Claire Bird, who was returning from maternity leave.

Fiji had to retire early when, in 2019, she pulled the ligaments in her leg jumping for a toy. PC Bird, 48, and her family adopted her to live out her days as their pet in West Sussex.

She said: “Fiji has had an exceptional career and has been a real credit to the police force. She has saved countless lives, including those of vulnerable people, missing persons, and those struggling with their mental health.

“Fiji could be calm and gentle when she needed to, but she also knew the times she needed to switch on the bark and get violent, aggressive and dangerous individuals to surrender. She also protected me during serious and violent incidents; had I not had her by my side, I may not have returned home safely to my family.

“Every dog I’ve had the pleasure of working with has been special, but there is something about Fiji that has made her a once-in-a-lifetime dog and partner.”

RPD Fiji – who was also trained as a firearms support dog – received two Chief Constable’s Commendations during her career, for successfully tracking a missing man who’d threatened to harm himself and helping to save his life, and for responding to a firearms incident in which she assisted to protect other officers and members of the public.

Lifesaver Award – PD Dutch and PC Josh Lindley (County Durham)

Two-year-old Belgian Malinois PD Dutch helped to save a man’s life during his first shift on the beat.

The rookie police dog and his Cleveland Police handler, PC Josh Lindley, were called to urgent reports of a missing man in Hartlepool on 7th June.

PC Lindley and general purpose dog PD Dutch licensed in May, just a month earlier, and had been shadowing another team before heading out on their first shift alone. They’d already detained two people for an alleged break-in before being called to the park to search for the man who’d walked into woodland.

PC Lindley, 35, from Hartlepool, said: “It wasn’t a huge track but the conditions were quite challenging and there were a lot of distractions. It was raining and there had been a lot of footfall in the area but Dutch was able to quickly pick up the correct scent.

“Dutch was off and he soon dragged me into the undergrowth, I couldn’t really see but he pulled me in and we found the man.

“I’m really proud of Dutch; tracking isn’t our strongest skill but he was really focused and showed the difference he could make.”

Special Recognition Award – PD Nico and PC Leandra McCurry (Leicestershire)

PC Leandra McCurry, 27, from Leicestershire Police, was named as the winner of the Special Recognition Award for her commitment to her ‘dream’ job in the face of personal loss, professional tragedy, and many setbacks.

She had dreamed of being a police dog handler ever since she was a child, when she saw a police dog at work after a suspect fled into the school playground.

She achieved that dream alongside her five-year-old German Shepherd general purpose dog, PD Nico.

PC McCurry, from Loughborough, lost her aunt and grandmother just a few weeks into her training, before her dog, PD Sivac, was unexpectedly retired from service and she had to re-train with another dog.

After qualifying with PD Nico, the pair – and the rest of their team – faced heartbreak when one of the unit’s police dogs, PD Zyla, died during an incident while she was tracking a suspect.

Then, just a few days later, PC McCurry’s father died unexpectedly.

She said: “My dad knew this job was my dream and I’m glad he got to see me achieve that. Work was my focus and it helped me get through my grief because I had to show up for the dog and for myself; giving up wasn’t an option.

“Now, to win this award, I still can’t really believe it. I cried for ages when I found out; I was speechless. I’ve really had to fight for this job and I’m proud of myself and of Nico.”

Crimefighting Duo Award – PC Marissa Barwell and PD Ella (Surrey)

Surrey Police officer PC Marissa Barwell and her general purpose dog PD Ella were named as the winners of the Crimefighting Duo Award.

PC Barwell and five-year-old German Shepherd PD Ella were recognised for their tireless commitment and fearlessness in the face of some dangerous situations.

The 33-year-old said: “It’s such a surprise to win this award, I didn’t expect it at all. I feel lucky to do a job that I love and enjoy, and it’s even better because the dogs enjoy it so much.

“I’m hugely privileged to work on the dog section; this job becomes your life at home as well as when you go to work.”

In one particular incident, PC Barwell and PD Ella were called to reports of a man ‘swinging a knife around’ in a busy shopping area. The duo responded quickly and managed to contain him and keep him away from the public – including children making their way home from school – until other units could arrive to safely arrest him.

In another incident, PD Ella tracked a vulnerable man who was having a mental health crisis and fled onto railway tracks. He’d been spotted heading into a field and Ella picked up his scent and tracked him, leading other officers, including the helicopter, to him.

PC Barwell also has a second dog; four-year-old sprocker spaniel PD Winter who is trained to sniff out cash, drugs and firearms.

PC Barwell added: “Ella is one-of-a-kind. She is quirky, very loyal and was born to work. Winter is absolutely crazy, she does not stop, but she has such amazing drive and never runs out of energy.

“I know I can rely on them both, if there’s something or someone to be found then I know they’ll give it 100 per cent. I feel incredibly lucky to have them by my side.”