Nottinghamshire Police’s dog section bolstered by new duo PD Rooster and handler PC Katie Brough

A new police dog and handler will soon be on patrol in Nottinghamshire.

After 13 weeks of arduous training, PC Katie Brough and PD Rooster completed their final licensing assessment last week.

PC Brough, who joined Nottinghamshire Police in 2019 with an ambition of becoming a dog handler, has also completed an advanced driving course in order to take on the role.

18-month-old German Shepherd Rooster — the last of a line of dogs to be named after Top Gun characters — excelled during training, and will join the team of 14 other general purpose police dogs with Nottinghamshire Police.

He will live full time with his handler and is trained to find people and property, and also to detain criminal suspects.

PC Brough said: “When I think of where we started together and where we are now I feel a huge amount of pride.

“Being a dog handler is all I’ve ever wanted to do in the police so I am incredibly grateful to all the trainers and handlers who’ve helped me so much over the last few months.

“Rooster has been absolutely amazing and I really couldn’t have asked for a better first dog. He loves his job and does everything with such enthusiasm.

“As a police dog handler, you’re continuously developing that partnership with your dog and developing skills together — so I am just really looking forward to getting out there and working with him in the future.”

Sergeant Nick Dachtler, of Nottinghamshire Police’s dog section, said: “Becoming a dog handler is in an enormous challenge for any police officer, and Katie has more than risen to the challenge.

“From day one she has impressed us with her enthusiasm, determination to learn and her very strong bond with her dog.

“I am delighted to her that she has now successfully licenced and know that she and Rooster will make a formidable crime-fighting team moving forward.”