When Dave meets 'Dave'
Acting District Commander, Sham Shui Po (SSPODIST), Dave Grant recently met Police Dog Dave on the latter's transfer to SSPODIST. Dave the dog is a three-year-old Labrador Passive Alert Drugs Search Dog (PADS) who specialises in detecting the presence of dangerous drugs. Dave will be a welcome addition to Kowloon West Region and SSPODIST in the battle against drugs.
"I'm assured that his name is entirely a coincidence, and he certainly didn't give much away during his transfer interview," says Dave. "Being a Labrador, he might have the edge in sniffing out dangerous drugs, but I reckon I could beat him over a hundred yards," he said not too convincingly.
Police Dog Dave will patrol local streets and parks. He will also participate in operations with other police units such as District Anti-triad Squad and Miscellaneous Enquiries Sub-unit to check bars and amusement game centres. In addition to combating drug activities, he will also help disseminate anti-drug information. Dave is one of 15 PADS dogs recently deployed by the Force to help in the fight against dangerous drugs. From February last year to March this year, the PADS dogs detected 29 dangerous drug cases.
The District also welcomed back Police Dog Antje who won the public's heart last year by escaping from her kennel and going Absent Without Leave for two weeks. A very popular and cheerful member of the District, Antje is now the proud mother of eight young puppies and prospective Police Dog recruits.
In praising the work of the District's three dog handlers, Sergeant Yuen Chung-fai, and Senior Police Constables Law Kwok-wah and Lo Kai-chung, Mr Grant underlined the value of the unit: "These guys and their canine partners are very much the unsung heroes of the Force. They work as a team, looking out for each other and the bond between man and dog is a strong one. They produce some good work and are invaluable in keeping order at potentially violent incidents."
This small team has, in the past six months, made a staggering 18 arrests for possession of dangerous drugs, as well as in cases of illegal immigrants, overstayers and wanted persons.
The visible sight of an officer patrolling with a dog is a strong deterrent to crime and the public has a strong affection for Police dogs as evidenced by their interest and concern at Antje's plight when she went missing, and the support shown during displays by the Police Dog Unit.
Dave
Grant
welcomes
"Dave"
to join his District's effort to combat dangerous
drugs