SENIOR Constable Joel Davidson and his trusty Police Dog companion, Buzz, have wasted no time making their mark in Townsville with a string of successful arrests in their first week on the job.
Having spent five years in the Mount Isa Dog Squad, Snr Const Davidson brings a wealth of experience to his new role alongside Buzz.
“I started my career as a police dog handler in the Mount Isa Dog Squad with my first Police Dog Gilly,” he said.
Unfortunately, Gilly was medically retired in 2023 due to arthritis, leading to Buzz’s arrival.
“Buzz wasn’t yet qualified, so we finished training him, then went to Brisbane, and he qualified as a Police Dog,” Snr Const Davidson said.
Despite Buzz’s young age of two, the pair engage in intense daily training to hone their skills.
For Senior Constable Davidson, the thrill of working with a Police Dog lies in their unique abilities.
“What I like most about working with a Police Dog is I like being able to catch the guys the other police can’t,” he said.
Buzz excels in tracking, a skill that has proved invaluable in their recent operations.
“There’s no device out there that can do what a police dog can do, you can’t beat a dog’s nose,” Snr Const Davidson said.
Buzz’s rapid success in apprehending suspects is a testament to his prowess and Snr Const Davidson said his partner really enjoys tracking and after a successful track, Buzz’s reward is some playtime with his beloved toys.
Despite Buzz’s remarkable achievements, Senior Constable Davidson acknowledges the differences between him and his previous partner.
“Gilly was a fantastic dog – he caught a lot of people and had a lot of success in Mount Isa,” he said.
“Buzz is a little more complicated to handle, he’s teaching me a lot.”
Nevertheless, Senior Constable Davidson is confident in Buzz’s potential, given his impressive lineage and early successes.
Townsville Dog Squad Officer in Charge Sergeant Nathan Hester expressed his delight in welcoming Senior Constable Davidson and Buzz to the team, praising their immediate impact.
“They had an outstanding first week on the job in Townsville and made a significant contribution to the operations and the work being done to fight property crime,” he said.
With their track record of success, Senior Constable Davidson and Buzz are poised to continue making invaluable contributions to law enforcement in Townsville.
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