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Death in service.

Northumbria Police

28 March 2011


A police dog has died in the line of duty.
On Thursday March 17 police responded to a report of suspected intruders at a building in Gateshead.
During the search of the site police dog Baz fell from a roof and received fatal injuries.
Baz, a German Shepherd, was one of 10 Northumbria Police puppies born in May 2004, and would have been seven years old on May 19. He became an operational police dog in June 2005 and a firearms support dog in June 2007.
Baz was due to retire from general purpose work and his last operational day would have been the day after his accident.
Sergeant John Sim, who is in charge of the dog section, said: "This is a horrible incident which has led to the death of a dog who had given years of loyal service to the public and Northumbria Police.
"Police dogs live at home with their handlers and they become part of the family. He had formed a strong and lasting bond with his handler and his handler's family."
PC Gary Saunders has been Baz's handler since Baz was 10 weeks old.
PC Saunders said: "The sudden and tragic death of my police dog Baz has been a devastating experience for me, my family and  many close friends. It has been one of the worst things I've encountered in 26 years of policing.
"Baz was a fearless and faithful partner who has, with me, encountered numerous highly dangerous situations but has died doing what most police dog and handler teams consider to be routine operational work."