A POLICE dog commander from Avon and Somerset Police has been given a national award.

The force said they were "very proud" of Sergeant Denis McCoy, who has been awarded a National Service Dog Bravery & Achievement Award.

Sgt McCoy was presented with the award for “Outstanding Achievement and Dedication to Duty” by Lord Petre Lord Lieutenant of Essex at a ceremony held at Ingatestone Hall, Essex, on Saturday April 16.

He was nominated by West Midlands Police with the citation, read by Peter Purves of Blue Peter and Crufts fame.

It said:"Sgt Denis McCoy, of Avon and Somerset Constabulary, has actively taken part on the National Police Chief’s Council for a number of years, helping to improve the working practices of all Police Dog Sections including the development of better working partnerships with neighbouring forces.

"Denis has played a major role at Regional and National Police Dog Trials, having competed at both a regional and national level, then going on to become one of only five National Police Trial judges.

"His work in this area has had a direct impact on improving the standards of Police Dog Units nationally in providing the best possible service to the communities that they serve.

"During his 16 years of service as an operational Dog Unit sergeant, he has worked and trained three operational General Purpose Patrol Dogs (Major/Dave/Lebo) and an Explosive Detection Dog (Paddy).

"In the field of Explosive Detection, Sgt McCoy has instigated a greater flexibility in working practises, arranging numerous regional explosive exercises - working closely with external agencies, both military and scientific, encouraging them to play an active part in exercises to prepare dog teams for operational needs.

"In recent years Denis has also worked his own Explosive Detection Dog to keep members of the public safe at the Olympic and Commonwealth Games and numerous other locations.

"As a Police Dog Commander he has been involved in numerous large scales disorders sometimes controlling crowds of thousands, with the most notable being in the summer of civil unrest in 2011 in Bristol City Centre.

With just four dog handlers (and despite being the target for a vast amount of missiles including bottles and bricks) he stopped Bristol City Centre from mass looting and violence.

"His positive policing style of approach helped defuse many public order issues on the day and days proceeding.

"Sgt McCoy is a truly outstanding officer who works tirelessly within his own Force, his region and at a national level to improve and enhance the image and performance of Police Dogs Units.

"He works with tireless enthusiasm and passion for which he is commended.

Sgt McCoy said: “It was a great honour to receive this award and I accept it on behalf of all the Dog Handlers I work with in Avon and Somerset and our Tri-Force colleagues, they too deserve the recognition.

"I work with some fantastic police officers and you are nothing without your team.

"Particularly in situations such as the Bristol public disorder, you need good colleagues by your side. They all work hard on a daily basis to keep the public safe, often in dangerous and volatile conditions.

“I have worked within the world of police dogs for the last 16 years and have been amazed at how much they have done, and continue to do, in the prevention of crime, whether it be in the field of specialist detection, looking for explosives/drugs/firearms or in dealing with civil unrest and disorder.

“Our Police Dog Units, and the individual officers and animals within it, serve the communities of Avon and Somerset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire with fierce loyalty and determination and I am proud to be a part of that.”