Success Stories

The following stories are just a sample of what our dogs have achieved recently.

Many of these crimes may not have been detected without the skill of the handlers and the instincts and training of the dogs themselves. 

Western Life Saving Snow Incident 

Sometime between 9 amd 11pm on Wednesday 13 January 2010, a 75 year old man suffering from Alzheimers went missing from his home address. He was wearing only jeans, a jumper and two left boots from different pairs. It was a very cold night with a recent fresh fall of snow and deep snow already lying from previous weeks. The man was a keen walker and was very fit for his age.

PC Galloway and his dog Taz were asked to attend some 2 hours after the man was thought to have set out, and located a track on a farm road some 2 miles from his home. The track continued over numerous fields and hills, through very deep snow and over extremely rough and difficult terrain. The weather conditions were exceedingly poor with extremely cold, snowy and foggy conditions, but Taz continued to track for over 2 hours.

Taz finally tracked to where the man was kneeling in snow up to his middle and suffering from hypothermia due to his limited clothing. He would not have survived for much longer had he not been found by PC Galloway and Taz.

The man was in a very remote area on a hill and Police assistance and transport was some distance away. However officers managed to reach PC Galloway, Taz and the man, and assisted in carrying him off the hill to safety where he was handed over to ambulance staff and conveyed to hospital. He was later returned home safe and well.

Due to the determination, commitment, tolerance and perseverance of PC Galloway and Taz, in a very challenging situation, this man’s life was saved. 

Attempted Robbery 

PC Hunter was on mobile patrol in the Dundee area when he received a radio message regarding an attempted robbery. He was informed that a man had attempted to rob a taxi driver of his takings. The suspect had since run off into the nearby communal close of a block of flats.

PC Hunter placed Police Dog Otis in his tracking harness and cast him inside the front door of the close. At this time Otis picked up a scent trail and tracked through the ground floor of the close and back out the other side and into the rear garden.

Otis continued tracking through the back garden to the rear door of another block of flats. He then entered the block of flats and continued tracking up one flight of stairs where he stopped outside a flat door.

Otis aired up, passively indicating that someone was behind the door and at this time PC Hunter heard someone from inside the flat bolt the door.

PC Hunter informed the beat officers and entry was later gained to the flat and a man matching the description was found within. He was arrested and later charged with the crime.

Housebreaking

Whilst on mobile patrol in Dundee, PC Hunter overheard a radio message from the Force Communications Centre in relation to an ongoing housebreaking. On arrival PC Hunter spoke with a beat officer who stated that he thought he had heard persons moving within the undergrowth nearby.

PC Hunter attended the undergrowth area along with Police dog Otis and gave a standard challenge for them to make themselves known or the dog would be released to search for them. At this time a youth came out of the undergrowth area. He admitted being involved in the incident and was arrested. A further two youngsters also made themselves known having been hiding nearby and were also arrested.

It was confirmed that 2 laptops, a satellite navigation system and an ornament containing loose change had been stolen from the house. None of the three arrested were found to have the stolen property, so PC Hunter caused Otis to carry out a property search in the immediate area where the three youths had been traced.

Otis passively indicated a satellite navigation system and a pile of loose change which were lying hidden behind a stone wall. He further continued searching the back pathway where he showed particular attention to some overgrown shrubbery and on checking this area two laptops were found.

The recovered property was subsequently identified as belonging to the occupant of the house where the housebreaking had occurred.