Police dog to return to duty
Northland police dog Caesar made national headlines last week, just two weeks after he began his career, when a man allegedly stabbed him in the head.
After initial concerns regarding the severity of his wounds — scan results showed two skull fractures — he is now expected to make a full recovery, and to return to the beat. His handler, Constable Josh Van Der Kwaak, suffered minor injuries.
Northland District Commander Superintendent Tony Hill said Caesar had been doing his job, including “taking a hit” for his handler.
Constable Can Der Kwaak and Caesar initially responded to a report of a burglary in progress at Parua Bay just before 6.30am on Saturday last week, some hours after reports of suspicious behaviour. They could not find the suspect, but were taking another look around the area when a resident reported finding an intruder, allegedly armed with a kitchen knife, in his house.
When police arrived soon after the man allegedly resisted arrest, and Caesar was twice stabbed in the head.
Inspector Al Symonds said there had been “quite a vicious struggle” as a resident and an off-duty police officer helped Constable Van Der Kwaak and Caesar subdue the alleged offender.
Symonds said Van Der Kwaak was okay and had police support.
Superintendent Hill extended his gratitude to the vet who initially treated Caesar, and acknowledged the victim, who had assisted Constable Van Der Kwaak after the dog was was stabbed.
Caesar was not the first Northland police dog to be stabbed.
His predecessor Gus was critically wounded in 2013 while capturing a violent, knife-wielding offender in a remote location. His handler, Senior Constable Peter Kinane, carried him out of a rough bush area, and he was helicoptered to Auckland for surgery. Six weeks later he was back on the beat.
In 2016 Gus became the first police dog in Northland to wear a stab-resistant vest, now used by all dogs in the region.
"Inspector Al Symonds said there had been ‘quite a vicious struggle’ as a resident and an off-duty police officer helped Constable Van Der Kwaak and Caesar subdue the alleged offender."