Police dog stabbed in face is hailed a ‘hero’
A POLICE dog stabbed in the face in the line of duty has been hailed a national hero after taking down a machete-wielding suspect.
PD Quantum, who has racked up more than 100 arrests during his four-year career with Nottinghamshire Police, was this week presented with the highly commended accolade in the Outstanding Bravery category of the Thin Blue Paw awards.
The German Shepherd cross Belgian Malinois attended the ceremony alongside his handler PC Ellse.
The organisers received more than 150 nominations from across the country but the panel of judges recognised Quantum for showing extraordinary bravery in the line of duty, particularly in relation for his work to detain a machete-wielding suspect.
As well as the award, he has also been given a lifetime of food to enjoy in his retirement.
Quantum joined the force in 2016 after being gifted by South Yorkshire Police in memory of PD Rebus, who was killed while on duty in an accident.
In 2017, he was partnered with PC Ellse, who was new to the unit after 12 years working in criminal investigation department and major crime units over the border in the West Midlands.
Speaking at the awards event, Constable Ellse said: “I feel so proud of Quantum and I’m so glad that he’s received the recognition he deserves tonight.
“We spend just about every minute of every day together so I am incredibly attached to him. He’s my best mate and our relationship is like no other.
“He is incredibly brave and relentless and his hard work and determination has resulted in many criminals ending up securely behind bars.
“Criminals are terrified of him and so they should be.”
During his career, the six-year-old police dog detained a youth with a machete who had fled from police and tried to resist by kicking and striking him.
The incident happened when PC Ellse was on duty in an unmarked police car and she was made aware of an incident in the Summerwood Lane area of Clifton where two men were seen running down the street with machetes.
She travelled to the area and spotted two people matching the description at around 1.45am on January 8, 2020. They then began to run so PC Ellse gave Quantum the command to stop them.
They approached an alleyway near to Angel Green where PD Quantum caught up with the suspects which led to them being arrested.
In May 2018, Quantum was stabbed in the face while trying to detain two robbery suspects who he had tracked from the crash site of a car they had stolen.
PC Ellse also sustained an injury to her eye socket whilst attempting to make the arrests.
Together with PC Ellse, Quantum had previously responded to a harrowing 999 call where an elderly woman had been tied up and was being robbed at knife-point in Keyworth in January 2020. The suspect was detained by Quantum after he found him hiding in a grassed area following an intense search.
Later that year in April, Quantum was once again injured as he detained an offender, who had knocked a British Transport Police officer unconscious, at Nottingham station.
But again PD Quantum bounced back and his tenacious work subsequently led to the arrest of a suspected driver who attempted to evade arrest after their car had smashed into parked vehicles.
The Thin Blue Paw Foundation trustee and award judge Kieran Stanbridge said: “PD Quantum has had an incredible career and has been involved in some shocking incidents where he has been attacked and injured.
“Through it all he’s shown bravery, courage and commitment to his job, to his handler and to protecting his community which is why we felt he deserved a highly commended in our Outstanding Bravery category at the Thin Blue Paw Awards.”