First police dog honoured at Plymouth Awards Ceremony
Police dog Axel stole the show at the crowded Plymouth Police Commander’s Awards ceremony for his beauty, his bravery, his occasional bark - and for being the first dog to receive such an honour.
The three year old German Shepherd received his own personal framed Certificate from the Commander as did his handler PC Mark Stevens for apprehending two suspects who were later charged with firearms offences and GBH.
In August this year the pair responded to reports of a man being shot with an air weapon and tracked them through dense undergrowth. PC Stevens had to crawl on his hands and knees through around 100 metres of knotted brambles alongside Axel, suffering cuts on his arms as he did so. Axel quickly located an item of clothing and, as armed officers were called in, the pair successfully located two suspects and detained them until they could be joined by other colleagues.
PC Stevens was commended for showing great tenacity and bravery throughout the incident which resulted in the detention of two dangerous individuals. Chief Superintendent Andy Boulting said their work was a great example of how a police dog enables an officer to achieve arrests, even in the most prickly of situations, and showcases the great partnership forged between man and dog.
“Crawling around on all fours is not normal. The bond between man and dog is really very significant and we perhaps do not recognise our police dogs enough. With their handlers they really are the epitome of a team,” said Chief Supt Boulting.
Also honoured at the ceremony were six police cadets (pictured) who helped out at the scene of a collision between a car and a pedestrian at a bus rally they were attending at the George Junction Park and Ride site. The Cadets took initial control of scene management, traffic management and witness details until police officers arrived. The Cadets were praised for dealing with the first serious incident they had attended in a highly professional manner. Those involved were Maisie Webber, Paige Phillips, Stephanie James, Travis Banks, Will Cross and Oliver Priestley,
“They did not hesitate to help others first which is exactly what we want. They are a real credit to Devon & Cornwall Police and young people in this country,” said Ch Supt Boulting.
Other honours went to two officers who responded to reports of a male who had hanged himself. They were able to get into the house, release the man and provide immediate life-saving first aid before medical help arrived. This meant the man survived in hospital for a further 48hrs which allowed family members to spend time with him before his death.
PCs James Maltby and Jane Edwards were commended for demonstrating extreme professionalism and courage in dealing with the incident in July 2016.
Police call handler Belinda Dunmall was given a Commander’s Certificate for talking to a distressed caller threatening to kill himself for four hours. Despite finding the threats upsetting, Belinda’s skilful questioning and prolonged dialogue enabled colleagues and officers to combine efforts to locate the man.
Three detectives were presented not only with a Commander’s Certificate but also a rare Judge’s Certificate of Commendation for their work in a complex and lengthy investigation into the suspected abuse by systemic poisoning of two children by their mother, Rose Jones.
DC Dave Cross, DC Kate Hillman and DS Mark Beavan (pictured) worked tirelessly to secure evidence to prosecute and convict. The investigation required extreme determination to pursue all lines of enquiry to secure successful conviction for the offences of cruelty and associated offences of perverting the course of justice and fraud.
The trial judge, His Honour Judge Ian Lawrie QC, commended the officers involved for their tenacity, diligence and professionalism in the investigation and presentation of the case. Jones was sentenced in June to a lengthy prison term and the children, who’ve made a full recovery, have been protected and their future safety secured.
The highest award at the ceremony, the Commander’s Commendation, went to PC Anni Parr, a specialist liaison officer working with victims of sexual offences. This year she worked with a rape victim who was distraught, showing signs of low self-esteem, alcohol abuse and weight issues. Anni encouraged her to attend alcohol awareness workshops and join a gym to improve her confidence. The suspect pleaded guilty shortly before the trial, in part due to the new confidence shown by the victim.
The victim said that Anni’s involvement, care and empathy, which had gone above and beyond what is expected of her police role, meant she had lost weight, felt more confident, started a relationship and had taken up running.
Chief Supt Boulting told PC Parr, “Plymouth police are really proud of you for your enthusiasm and passion for changing the lives of those affected by serious and violent crimes. I know you have many cases on where you have made an impact of this nature. You enabled this victim not just to step out of a cycle of abuse, but deal with the criminal justice system and turn her life around.”
Addressing all the award winners Ch Supt Boulting said, “The key essence of policing at the moment for me is selflessness. Every day in this city there is bravery, exceptional work and selflessness. You do it because you are professional, you want to be there and, when the chips are down, no-one has to ask you to do it. You do the very best under extreme circumstances and make a big difference to peoples’ lives.”
