Memorial Honours Fallen Police Dogs

RETIRED and active police dogs from across the UK were present at a celebratory unveiling ceremony for a new national memorial honouring brave canines who have died in service.

The sculpture, which stands in Oaklands Park, Chelmsford, has taken 13 years of planning, but now marks a place where the brave sacrifice of police dogs can be properly honoured.

The idea for the memorial belonged to retired Essex PC Paul Nicholls, who raised £60,000 for the statue following the death of his first dog Sabre in 2006.

He decided to campaign for the sculpture to provide a “more fitting tribute” than the existing small plaque in Staffordshire dedicated to police animals.

At the opening of the memorial, Paul recalled the death of his four-legged friend and said: “I just sat there and sobbed my heart out as I couldn’t cope without my best pal and he was my inspiration to get where I have now after 13 years.”

Medals were also presented at the unveiling, recognising the courageous fallen heroes, including Bryn who was shot dead in 1998 in Northamptonshire when he protected his handler Ian Churms.

Officers say that the bond shared between police dogs and their handler is like no other, which was later highlighted by PC Luke Pritchard.

Luke currently is handler to police dog Tex and said: “I’d give my life for him and he would give his life to me.

“The day Tex goes it would break my heart, so for them to be immortalised to show what a good job they do is fantastic.”

Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick, who unveiled the memorial, was also keen to recognise the “massive” contribution that police dogs make to the service.

The seven-foot statue will now serve as a timeless reminder of the sacrifice and service police dogs provide to forces nationwide.