Police dog handler
PC Dave Cole and Obi
Name: PC Dave Cole
Job: Dog handler
Base: Dogs Section, Force Headquarters
Why did you join the police force?
I had wanted to be a police officer ever since I was a kid. Since I joined the force I have worked in different departments and where I work at the moment with the dogs is great because I love working with animals. This really is my dream job!
Tell us about your dog Obi?
Obi is a black German Shepherd and very energetic. He lives at home with me and my family, where he has his own special kennel in the garden and is well looked after. He has to be fed the right foods, groomed and exercised every day.
Obi isn’t like most dogs because he is a police dog and helps me with my work. Working for the police Obi needs to be friendly, very clever, he can’t get scared or scare others and must always do as he’s told.
What do you do at work?
Obi and myself work together as a team and are called out to all kinds of jobs. We go to burglaries to track down criminals and look for lost property, we search woods, fields and buildings for missing people and go up in the helicopter to look for people as well.
We also patrol the streets in the city centre and go to football matches to make sure no-one is getting into any trouble and sometimes visit local schools to talk to the children about what we do.
What is the best thing about your job?
This job is exciting and different every day and it is always a good feeling when you catch someone who is wanted by the police or find a missing person and take them back home safely.
