QPM for PC who honoured police dogs with service medals

ESSEX Police Federation has praised the efforts of a “dedicated, well-known and well-liked” former police officer who was awarded a Queen’s Police Medal in the 2017 Birthday Honours.

PC Paul Nicholls, a recently-retired Dog Handler, was recognised for his distinguished Services to Policing and will receive his medal at a ceremony later in the year.

After serving for 30 years as a police officer, Paul hung up his boots in December 2016 and is currently fundraising for the National Police Dog Memorial, to recognise Police Dogs that have died in service. He has also teamed up with a colleague from Thames Valley Police Dog Section to hold a two day conference to promote good working practices for all working dogs.

Thanks to Paul’s hard work, Essex Police now awards medals to honour police dogs who retire, engraved with service dates, during ceremonies to both general purpose and detection dogs who served with the Dog Unit.

The force also honours police dogs who have died in the line of duty.

Paul came up with the idea after installing a plaque dedicated to the memory and faithful service of police dogs in the Chief Constable’s garden at Essex Police headquarters.

Steve Taylor, Chair of Essex Police Federation, said: “Paul was very dedicated and a well-known and well-liked officer on dog unit so its fantastic news for him and the amount of effort and discretionary effort he put into his work has been recognised. It is very well deserved. Well done Paul.”

Chief Constable Stephen Kavanagh said: “I am delighted for Paul and his family. He has helped Essex Police lead the county in Police Dog recognition and training. It’s fantastic to hear that Paul is being recognised in this way. He has been a credit to Essex Police and his dedication to our police dogs has benefitted the force in so many ways.

“Paul has paved the way for a positive training regime for our canine colleagues and his devotion to recognising our police dogs with medals ensures that our police dogs are celebrated and remembered. He also has a rather dapper line in suits!”

Paul has worked with a total of eight police dogs and retired with his two police dogs, Cocker Spaniel Ludo, a forensic recovery dog and German Shepherd, Fidget, a general purpose dog.