Constable Marcus Saunders and patrol dog Vann are this year's winners of the Erridge Cup, given to the top performing rookie dog team in the country.
The pair's exploits have become well known through several reports in the Otago Daily Times of their long feats of tracking, part of a stellar year for the resurgent Dunedin dog section, led by Sergeant Mike Calvert.
Since becoming operational on 23 August 2018 until the beginning of April, the pair have made 42 arrests in 41 "tracking catches,'' along with seven pre-warning arrests.
This work has resulted in 80 charges being laid, 98 infringement notices issued, and they have carried out 86 bail checks.
Sgt Calvert, who nominated Const Saunders and Vann for the award, said he was also impressed with his overall attitude to policing, especially on the roads.
“While on patrol, Marcus also has a strong focus on reducing death and injury on our roads.
“He performs at an exceptional level in both his dog handling duties and overall policing.”
Const Saunders deflected praise to Vann.
“I’m lucky to have such a good dog.
''He’s the one that deserves all the credit."
He strongly encouraged others to join police and become a dog handler, his dream job.
In the past two weeks, Const Saunders and Vann have been deployed to apprehend a knife-wielding man who threatened officers, along with two robbery suspects who fled police in their vehicle.
The Dunedin Dog Section:
- Sergeant Mike Calvert and Ice
- Constable Regan Wilson and South
- Constable Regan Mauheni and Paikea
- Senior Constable Tim Roy and Targa
- Constable Marcus Saunders and Vann
