Rescued stray is cops’ first Staffie drug gang buster

A TWO-YEAR-OLD Staffordshire bull terrier specially trained to find drugs, cash and firearms has set tails wagging by becoming the first of his breed to join his namesake police force. Rescue dog Cooper, who lived on the streets as a stray before being rescued by the RSPCA, joined the service earlier this year and has already helped hunt down more than £250,000 of heroin and cocaine. Handler PC Tim Moss of Staffordshire Police said the four-legged sleuth is also great at busting negative stereotypes that dog his breed. PC Moss said: “It's an amazing story – one day he was in the kennels and now he’s a fully-fledged police dog. I have had Cooper since March and he joined the force the following month. I’m extremely privileged to have him – he’s an amazing dog and we have an amazing bond. It feels really good to have a Staffie.”

Cooper has become something of a celebrity invited on school tours and to meet the public.

PC Moss believes the negative attention brought to the breed is down to owners – not the dogs.

He said: “Owners don’t always have experience with this breed of dog, which can be where some of the stereotypes about Staffies come from.

Shocked

“The houses that we go into mainly have Staffies so it’s a good step to be onside with them.

“Having Cooper when doing a raid is a great ice breaker, people are always shocked that we are working a Staffie – as either they have one or know someone else who does. But it’s weird, I have a Belgian shepherd too and people stay on the same side of the road when I’m walking him, but when I’m walking Cooper people tend to cross to the opposite side.”