Police Puppers: Stories of Crime-Solving Canines That Will Melt Your Heart
- By hsquibb
- •
- 04 Nov, 2020
Sure, we all love a puppy in uniform, but have you ever considered that the impact of police dogs is far more significant than you may have imagined?
Police dogs are specifically trained to support police and law enforcement personnel, using their senses to search for drugs and explosives, locate missing people, discover crime scene evidence, and to attack and stop any person being targeted by the police.
The most commonly used breeds for police dogs are the German Shepherd, Belgian Malinois, Dutch Shepherd, and Retrievers. This selectivity is due to their courage, obedience, and intelligence, as they must remember several verbal cues and hand gestures in the line of duty. Hopefully the stories of these passionate pets will illustrate their cruciality in the world of case-cracking, and make you adore our furry friends even more!
Alex
Alex the German Shepherd unveiled an arson and four counts of second-degree murder where authorities suspected a tragic accidental fire. Alex arrived at the home of the Parsons’ in New York the morning after Eric Parsons had lost his wife and four children in a house fire. Alex immediately gestured toward Eric Parsons’ car, indicating that he sensed traces of an ignitable liquid accelerant on the driver’s seat. Upon further inspection of the house, Alex informed his team of more traces on the clothes of Eric, and on his children’s beds, by touching his nose to the surface and then sitting beside it. Eric Parsons was later convicted of arson and murder.
Déjà
When a young girl was dragged into the woods at 3a.m., Deputy Stone of the Rancho Cucamonga PD knew that his female bloodhound was going to be the only hope of finding her in the vast woodland. Deputy Stone and Déjà located the girl’s purse, and from then on Déjà’s incredible olfactory senses allowed her to guide the Deputy through the dense woodlands, to discover the girl still alive with her capturer. If not for Déjà’s incredibly strong senses and hard-working response, the young girl may not have been found in time.
Leena
Leena was rewarded with a new leather strap and a velvet bed for her incredible bravery and skill in assisting the Indo Tibet Border Police in a murder investigation. When Vivek of the Kushaliya Village did not return home from work on May 31st, 2020, a search party was launched who discovered him dead in a nearby field on June 1st. After tracking a scent from the crime scene, Leena led police directly to the street on which the murderers lived. Three men were arrested and confessed to the killing, claiming that Vivek’s motorcycle collided with their car and led to a heated argument. If not for Leena, police would never have found a link connecting these men to the victim.
Ravi
It was black labrador Ravi’s confidence which saved the life of a missing 40-year-old man in July 2020, as the Kottayam dog squad doubted his senses. When a man didn’t return home from work on July 20th, Ravi was called to catch his scent from his bike helmet which was found near his house, Ravi immediately ran 300 metres away to a dilapidated building and began barking, but his team believed the building was occupied and continued their search. Ravi was insistent upon returning to the building rather than searching elsewhere, and the man was later found severely dehydrated and confused inside the abandoned building. This wasn’t the first time Ravi’s senses have been unquestionable, as months prior he discovered the culprit of a theft as being a close family member of the victim, by smelling traces of the scent of the ornament which had been stolen on her fingers.
Stryker
In a classic police drug bust, Stryker and his team at the Lewisville Police Department were called to a suspicious trailer in February 2020, where Stryker carried out a free-air sniff of the surrounding area and located 1.2 million dollars worth of narcotics. Whilst Stryker’s efforts were described as ‘positively pawesome’, this is a frequent occurrence for K-9s in the policing business, as their olfactory senses are second to none after intensive training to uncover such illegal activities.
CrimeCon Returns to London on 7th and 8th June 2025: A Must-Attend Event for True Crime Enthusiasts
Exciting news for true crime aficionados – CrimeCon is making its much-anticipated return to London on 7th and 8th June 2025! As the biggest UK event for those with a passion for the true crime genre, this is an unmissable opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of crime, justice, and investigation, all set in the heart of the UK capital.
CrimeCon UK has built a reputation as the ultimate true crime experience, where enthusiasts, experts, educators and professionals come together to explore high-profile cases, delve into forensic science, and hear from those at the forefront of criminal investigation. 2025 promises to be the best event yet - being more captivating than ever before.
What to Expect at CrimeCon 2025
Building on the enormous success of past years, CrimeCon London 2025 will once again offer attendees exclusive access to leading criminal experts, investigative journalists, detectives, and true crime content creators. With a packed schedule of live panels, interactive discussions, and real-life case studies, this year's event is guaranteed to leave attendees with insights into some of the most talked-about cases and topical true crime themes. Not only this, CrimeCon UK puts victims and advocacy for justice at the heart of the event - making sure that CrimeCon is a platform for every story that needs to be told.
Here's a glimpse of what awaits attendees at CrimeCon 2025:
- Exclusive Interviews and Case Debriefs: Hear directly from those involved in some of the UK’s most intriguing and infamous criminal cases, hearing from those that were directly impacted by criminality.
- Meet Your Favorite True Crime Content Creators: The digital world has revolutionised the true crime genre, and CrimeCon will be bringing top content creators together to discuss their platforms, methods, and deep dives into unsolved mysteries.
- Interactive Exhibits and Forensic Workshops: Put your sleuthing skills to the test as you take part in immersive activities, which have, in the past, included forensic analysis and criminal profiling.
- Q&A Sessions with Experts: Get the chance to ask burning questions to investigators, criminologists, and legal professionals.
Who Should Attend?
Whether you're a die-hard true crime fan, a criminal justice professional, or just someone curious about the world of crime-solving, CrimeCon is perfect for you. The event brings together a diverse community of people who share a passion for exploring the darker side of humanity while discussing critical issues of justice and victim advocacy.
For those already familiar with popular crime podcasts, books, and documentaries, this is your chance to engage with the experts and learn more about the complexities behind these stories. CrimeCon offers an unparalleled opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals in a friendly, inclusive atmosphere.
Secure Your Spot
Tickets for CrimeCon London 2025 are expected to sell out fast, so be sure to grab yours soon. Various ticket packages are be available, offering different levels of access, from basic admission to VIP and Platinum experiences, where you can enjoy perks such as exclusive sessions with speakers, early access to certain events and enhanced event benefits.
To find out more and to book your tickets, click here. Don't miss out on being part of the most thrilling true crime event of the year!
Now is your chance to ensure your favourite true crime content from 2023 is recognised in the TCAs!
VIEWERS' CHOICE: Whether it's your favourite series, documentary film or influencer - make sure you submit your thoughts on your favourite on-screen true crime content today! Remember - only content released in 2023 is eligible and will be counted.
LISTENERS' CHOICE: All True Crime podcasts (that released content that is available in the UK during 2023) are eligible to be nominated so be sure that your go-to true crime podcast is recognised!
READERS' CHOICE:
Which true crime book caught your attention in 2023? As long as it was first published last year then it's eligible to be nominated, so cast your vote today!
Voting is now open and closes on 31st March 2024.
Those with the most votes will be recognised and awarded at the True Crime Awards which is scheduled to take place on 25th April 2024.
SERIES 5 EPISODE 2
AVAILABLE NOW
Damian Barr is joined by Shetland and Vera author Ann Cleeves to discuss her new novel, The Raging Storm. Lauren Lyle, star of the series Karen Pirie, reveals how she brings the Val McDermid character to life, and, on the 30th anniversary of Trainspotting, Irvine Welsh talks about the ITV crime series and his latest novel, The Long Knives. True crime podcasters (and our very own Nancy Baughen) rate Truman Capote classic In Cold Blood, and crime readers at the Shetland Noir Festival in Lerwick recommend their favourite reads.
If you'd like to catch up and watch this incredible episode of The Big Scottish Book Club, click here.
