Officer nominated for honour by colleagues
AGLASGOW police officer has been praised for his work ethic and dedication by colleagues who nominated him for the Cop of the Year Award.
Constable David McIntyre, 32, was put in for the Scottish Police Federation (SPF) award by fellow police officers who admire his professionalism when dealing with high-risk incidents.
David, who works as a police dog handler, has a track record of volunteering to be the first on the scene, detecting serious crimes and saving lives.
“I didn’t know anything about it,” he said. “So I was a bit shocked but very humbled.
“I want to say thanks to the officers that nominated me. I’ve never been nominated for something like that.
“It’s not a job that I do for awards or anything.
“But it’s very nice to know that the work that I’ve been doing to help out has been recognised.”
David attends emergency calls and assists the public and other officers with the help of four-legged partners Rudi and Veader.
His response has led to a number of serious crimes being detected and vulnerable people being brought to safety.
Examples include finding a woman at risk of suicide during heavy snowfall with the help of his dog, tracing a vulnerable teenager in Glasgow, and saving a man from drug overdose.
With the help of his dog, he also found the culprit of a serious road accident in Glasgow who had been hiding in a garden following the incident. He said: “Sometimes I do get a little bit scared. However, I have been blessed with a really good team of police dogs, who always look after me when I get to these calls, especially my German shepherd Rudi.
“So I might get a little nervous at the start, but as soon as I get there, I get the big dog out, I’m all good.”
He added: “At the same time, if it wasn’t for Rudi and I being out there, the vulnerable people who might find themselves in danger would not survive. “That makes me feel very, very proud of the job that I’m doing.” The SPF Cops’ Cop of the Year Award goes to “the colleague who always helps, who supports, who volunteers, who steps forward and who cares” and the award allows officers to be “recognised and appreciated by their peers for demonstrating what we value as being a police officer”.
SPF representative David Taylor said: “A common acknowledgement from nominees is that David regularly volunteers to attend and assist at incidents despite being aware he may be the first officer at the locus pending the arrival of other colleagues.
“Colleagues additionally have nominated David for his professionalism and his personality when dealing with members of the public.
“It is quite apparent to the nominees that David sets a high standard to his role which they aspire to and appreciate.”
The award ceremony will be held in Edinburgh tomorrow.