@westmidlandspolice

Happy International Dog Day! 🐾 ❤️😊🐕 We’re so grateful for all our #policedogs who help keep everyone safe. Here at West Midlands Police we are privileged to work alongside some absolutely wonderful dogs who assist us in our work every day. One of our ‘pawsome’ police dogs has retired after a successful career detaining suspects, finding stolen cars and rescuing vulnerable people. PD Captain is putting up his paws for some well-earned rest after four years fighting crime across the #WestMidlands 🐶 The six-year-old German Shepherd was a graduate from our dedicated dog training unit at Balsall Common. And became an official member of the police team in 2018. 🏅 In 2020 Captain and PC Cottrell were awarded a Certificate of Achievement from the National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC) after being nominated in the Police Dog Action of the Year Awards. He has detained dozens of suspects and protected police colleagues including his handler PC Marcus Cottrell when faced with danger. One job saw Captain and PC Cottrell called to disorder in Solihull where officers had been assaulted. Captain was also kicked, but this didn’t stop him detaining two people. Captain will now spend his retirement with PC Cottrell and his family after the pair developed such a strong bond working with each other. 💙 Our hero leaves a legacy behind to build on his success. Captain is father to a litter of four-week-old future crime fighters. PC Cottrell from the Dog Unit, said: “It has been an honour to work alongside Captain and I’m so happy to have him as part of my family who will adore him for the rest of his life. “Police dogs are integral to the work we do in protecting the public and fighting crime. We couldn’t do this job without our four-legged heroes.” #internationaldogday2022