‘Heroic’ retired police dog who saved man’s life on birthday walk wins award
Tuesday, 14 January, 2025
A retired police dog who has been named a ‘hero’ after saving a man’s life while out on a birthday walk has been honoured with a top award.
RPD Bear was out walking with his owners both retired police officers to celebrate his 12th birthday when he located a missing vulnerable man and helped lead him to safety.
The German Shepherd and his owner, Julia Pope, were presented with the Thin Blue Paw Foundation’s Lifesaver Award at a special ceremony at Sussex Police HQ, in Lewes, on Monday 23rd December.
The Thin Blue Paw Foundation is a charity which supports, rehabilitates, celebrates and protects both working and retired police dogs across the UK. The charity celebrates the bravery, dedication and skill of police dogs by giving out special awards.
Lifesaver in action
Bear served as a general-purpose police dog with Sussex Police until he retired in 2020. He was adopted by fellow officer, Julia, who is from East Sussex.
Julia, her husband Ian, and Bear were out walking in the South Downs, near Eastbourne, on 28th November when Bear sprang into action, leading them to the man who had fallen over in some dense undergrowth. He was cold, wet and confused.
Police had already been searching for the man but had been unable to locate him so Julia helped him to his feet and Bear led them to safety. It was lucky that the retired police team were even out as it was Bear’s first walk for weeks following his recovery from major surgery to remove two tumours.
It’s the second time Bear who now serves as a wellbeing and trauma support dog for police officers, through the Oscar Kilo 9 project has bounced back from poor health. Last summer, he needed an £8,500 specialist operation to repair two herniated discs in his spine caused by his years of strenuous police work.
The surgery, which helped Bear back to full mobility, and rehabilitation afterwards was partly funded by the Thin Blue Paw Foundation, which offers financial support to those who adopt retired police dogs in order to ensure they have access to the best care and treatment.
Presenting Bear with the Lifesaver Award, Thin Blue Paw Foundation trustee and co-founder Kieran Stanbridge said: “Bear dedicated years of his life to vital police work and his quick actions and calm nature in this scenario showed that he still has a nose for the job.
“At his age and after everything he’s been through, to save a man’s life is testament to the incredible skill and instinct that these dogs have. He’s a true hero and the perfect recipient of our Lifesaver Award.”
'Remarkable’ career
Sussex Police Chief Constable Jo Shiner said: “I was proud to present PD Bear with a Lifesaver Award for his heroic work to locate a man in distress.
“It is incredible Bear is continuing to inspire us with his skills, and caps a remarkable career of service even after his well-earned retirement from the force in 2020.
“Bear’s story is a testament to the high standards achieved by all of our police dogs and their handlers in Sussex, and demonstrates our commitment to helping the public and serving our communities.”
Bear’s previous handler, Iain Sutherland, was also present at the ceremony, along with Chief Inspector Di Lewis, who previously headed up the dog unit and brought Bear and his sister, Maggie, onto the force after they’d been bred for Kent Police but were not needed.
She brought them onto the team and Maggie went on to be used for breeding but is now enjoying her retirement in Dubai, while Bear worked as a general purpose police dog where he also completed public order support dog and firearms support dog training.
Julia, who had no idea that Bear was to receive the award, said: “The award was amazing and completely unexpected; to say it was a surprise would be an understatement!
