By Police dog shot three times in the head during arrest receives Lifetime Achievement Award
A retired police dog who ‘never missed a day’s work’ even after being shot three times in the face has been awarded with a lifetime achievement commendation.
Retired police dog Logan received the honour at the Thin Blue Paw Awards, hosted by the Thin Blue Paw Foundation at Knebworth Park, in Hertfordshire.
His proud former handler and owner, PC Ian Sweeney, said: “Logan is my soulmate and I’m so proud of him for everything he’s achieved. This award is particularly special as it encompasses everything he’s done and I don’t think you ever really believe you’ll achieve something like that!
“It makes all the hard work so worthwhile. I still feel incredibly shocked, overwhelmed and overjoyed by it!”
Logan joined Humberside Police in January 2015 at 10-months-old from the South Yorkshire Police breeding programme and in 2017, he qualified as a firearms support dog too.
RPD Logan – who retired in May (2022) – has a long list of achievements making it easy for the Thin Blue Paw Awards judges to name him as the worth winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award.
In December 2020, Logan successfully tracked a high-risk missing person who’d disappeared from his home. After 70 minutes searching approximately 5 sq miles in temperatures of -2C, Logan located the man, unclothed and ‘at death’s door’, leading medics to him and ultimately saving his life.
Logan also received a Recognition of Service award from Humberside Police Special Operations Unit Superintendent, and two Chief Constable commendations before retiring in May 2022 after his long career, in which he achieved more than 300 arrests.
The duo received one award for preventing a major public disorder incident in September 2016 at a football match between Grimsby and Sheffield where around 200 fans clashed in the streets.
The second was after the pair successful tracked an organised gang responsible for stealing high-value cars after three ran from a vehicle across open land, followed by Logan. The men attacked PC Sweeney and Logan with bricks, breaking the officer’s hand and causing injuries to the dog who still managed to detain all three.
But the duo’s biggest challenge came in May 2018 when they were deployed to search for an attempted murderer who’d tried to kill a man and fled the scene in Grimsby.
PC Sweeney said: “We knew where he was hiding and we knew he had a bladed weapon. Logan and I cornered him and then he turned on us with a handgun and threatened to kill us. I deployed Logan which was probably one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make as the man shot at me.
“I thought I may be sending him to his death to protect me. I got hit in the face three times and Logan was also shot in the mouth and head three times – but, despite his injuries, he still detained him successfully.
“Logan bounced back unbelievably from the incident; in fact he only had to have time off work because I was signed off for six weeks due to my injuries.”
For that incident, Logan received the Heart of the Community Award and was also honoured with the North East Region 2 National Bravery Award.
Nominating RPD Logan for the award, ex-dog handler PC Dan Haile – a former colleague of PC Sweeney – wrote: “When PD Logan hit the streets he rose from strength-to-strength as an incredible search [dog] and formidable tracking dog. And to top it off he had faultless criminal work. You could say he was the perfect dog; and still is!
“PD Logan faultlessly served Humberside Police with PC Sweeney for seven years and six months and, in that time, never missed a day’s work.
“PD Logan has made an incredible impact to North East Lincolnshire and the wider community, making the area a safer place and saving countless lives. I have never known a police dog so dedicated to serve and protect.”
Humberside Police Superintendent Lee Edwards said: “It is an incredible honour for one of our retired police dogs to receive the National Lifetime Achievement award. This once in a lifetime achievement recognises the hard work, commitment, dedication, skill and ability of RPD Logan’s work for Humberside Police.
“The skill and expertise Logan demonstrated throughout his service comes from the outstanding work he completed operationally when serving Humberside Police. This involved working alongside his former handler, PC Ian Sweeney, and other officers to track criminals, search for suspects and keep our communities safe.
“This award is one in a long line of accomplishments Logan has achieved, reflecting the impact his and PC Sweeney’s partnership has had on protecting communities across the force. We are all extremely proud for everything RPD Logan has accomplished over his seven and a half years’ service, and we congratulate him on his well-deserved award.”
