A new nose will soon be searching for vital forensic evidence in Nottinghamshire.
PD Reggie is Nottinghamshire Police’s latest four-legged recruit, and he has now completed six weeks of specialist search training after being paired with a new handler.
The lively two-year-old Working English Spaniel has been trained to sniff out drugs, cash, and firearms at crime scenes.
PD Reggie was recruited from the Dogs Trust charity, which identified his high play drive with a ball, making him an ideal candidate for police training.
He will be the first specialist search animal for his experienced handler and will work alongside general-purpose dog PD Rocket.
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PD Reggie was put through his paces in a series of search scenarios on 19 August, overseen by an external examiner.
He successfully detected samples in dense woodland, inside buildings, and in and around a parked car.
The force utilises four types of police dogs: general-purpose animals adept at chasing and tracking, and a variety of specialist search dogs that can sniff out concealed drugs and other forensic evidence.
Sergeant Nick Dachtler, of Nottinghamshire Police’s dog section, said: “PD Reggie is absolutely full of energy and character. He is tenacious in his searching and passed his licensing with flying colours.
“Training police dogs is hard work, so we are grateful for our relationship with the Dogs Trust for highlighting strong candidates.
“As PD Reggie begins his new career, it is hugely rewarding to see him find a long-term home with us and thrive in the care of his expert handler.
“Police dogs remain a fundamental part of policing, providing a unique skill set that simply cannot be replicated, and their contribution continues to play a crucial role in uncovering vital forensic evidence.”
