KODA’S READY TO COLLAR CRIMINALS
MEET Koda, the fourlegged crimefighter. The 14-monthold Belgian Malinois has just qualified to become a fully-fledged police dog and has been given her collar number, PD1301 and been issued with her own warrant card.
She’s the newest member of the Alliance Armed Policing and Police Dogs Unit that’s shared between North Wales Police and their counterparts in Cheshire.
Her handler, PC Sonia Stobbart, an instructor with the unit, introduced Koda to the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, Andy Dunbobbin, when he came on a visit.
Koda is a general purpose police dog that can be used for a whole host of jobs, ranging from searches for missing people, property and weapons to detaining suspects and tackling large scale disorder.
Mr Dunbobbin praised Koda and her canine colleagues: “These dogs and their handlers play a key role in frontline policing – they are our unsung heroes.
“I am sure Koda will make a fine addition to the team.”
The general purpose dogs are usually German Shepherds, Dutch Herders or Malinois while specialist dogs are usually gun dog breeds like, Labradors, Cocker or Springer Spaniels.
Joining the dogs’ unit 13 years ago was a “dream come true” for PC Stobbart.
She said: “It has always been something I wanted to do because I adore dogs.
“Dogs like Koda save lives on a daily basis and they are an integral part of policing.
“Their noses are absolutely phenomenal and that’s something that technology can’t replace in the environment we work in.”
It was a sentiment endorsed by Chief Inspector Simon Newell, who’s in charge of the Alliance team.
He said: “There are people who’ve been arrested for burglaries or assaults or stealing vehicles that’ve run off from local officers that we’ve been called to. We’ve located them. They would not have been found if it were not for the dogs.”