Hampshire Constabulary's newest four-legged recruit has got off to the paw-fect start to her career during her first few weeks on duty.
Moxie, a German Sheppard, officially joined the force in October after completing an intensive training programme which focuses on ensuring the dogs and their handlers are equipped with the skills needed for operational policing.
Within weeks on the job, Moxie tracked down a man who had left his home in the New Forest, with the intention to end his own life. Moxie picked up his scent and managed to locate him in a wooded area. The man was already unconscious but Moxie's handler was able to provide immediate first aid and call for the ambulance service.
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At the end of November, she finished a night shift by tracking down another high-risk missing person in the New Forest area. Within three minutes on the ground, she tracked him down, finding him fast asleep and snoring in a sleeping bag.
Moxie has also carried out duties at football matches, been deployed to a theft from vehicle incident, searched a building site for burglars, and attended a collision where the driver had left the scene.
She is just one of several dogs in the unit, who fall into two categories - general purpose dogs like Moxie, and specialist search dogs.
General purpose dogs are trained for tracking, containment or detention of offenders, searching for people, locating property and public order.
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The specialist search dogs can search buildings, open areas, vehicles, vessels, and just about anywhere for hidden or discarded drugs, cash or firearms.
Moxie’s handler, PC Stacy Beale, said: “Tracking missing people, uncovering evidence and apprehending suspects are just some of the crucial roles our dogs play in our relentless pursuit of criminals and keeping our communities safe.
“Together with their handlers, they can provide assistance to a range of teams across the force, whether that is in public order situations, helping find a missing person or tracking down evidence which may not initially be spotted by the human eye.
“I am incredibly proud of Moxie, having saved a man’s life in her first month of duty and showing confidence whilst being deployed to a number of other types of incidents. She is a good all-round dog, who enjoys her work. Whilst she is still young in service she is proving to be a confident four-legged crime fighter and an excellent partner to work with.”
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