"Dogs with new jobs: Canine teams ready to go following graduation tomorrow at Upper Hutt"
New Zealand Police will have five new qualified canine recruits, following tomorrow’s ceremony at the NZ Police Dog
Training Centre, Trentham.
Graduating as operational teams at Trentham, after months of hard work will be:
- Sergeant Warren Sangster and Abel, based in Gisborne
Sergeant Sangster is currently the Dog Section Supervisor at Tairawhiti-Gisborne. This is his third dog.
He has been in the police for 21 years and has served in Hamilton Dog Section for five years, Taupo Dog Section for 10
years and now 18 months in Gisborne.
Has worked Patrol, Search and Rescue and Victim Recovery Dogs.
- Senior Constable Tim Roy and Targa, Dunedin
Targa is Constable Roy’s fifth operational dog, and he’s been a handler for the last nine years, seven years in Timaru
and two years in Dunedin.
He is also a qualified AOS dog-handler.
- Senior Constable Tony Feasey and Primo, Auckland
Primo is Senior Constable Feasey’s fifth dog.
Interestingly all four of his previous dogs were named Max, but obviously had to be renamed.
Senior Constable Feasey has had 18 years on dog-section and prior to becoming a handler Feasey was a crewman on the
Eagle helicopter.
- Constable Stu Cann and Saba, Timaru
- New to the dog section is Constable Stu Cann of Timaru, who is graduating with first dog Saba. He has fostered three
police puppies, Mills, Oza and Nox.
Oza went on to win the National Championships last year and became more famous recently for donating blood to injured
Police Dog, Kosmo after he was stabbed.
“It’s great to finally be here as a handler and see the other side of things, instead of a fosterer.
It’s been a busy time, but we’re now looking forward to a week or so off to rest, before Saba and I get stuck into it,”
Constable Cann says.
- Senior Constable Grant Burrows and Haven, Auckland
This is Senior Constable Burrow’s second dog. He’s been working as a handler for two and a half years.
Also graduating will be five NZ Customs dog teams.