A 'PAW-SOME' new recruit has hit the ground running in the Oxley Police District, to help sniff out crime in the community.
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Police dog Alpha and his handler - whose identity is protected - put paws and boots on the ground at the Tamworth police station on Monday.
The police pooch will be based in Tamworth, but will help crack down on crime across the district, including in Gunnedah.
Oxley Police District Commander Superintendent Kylie Endemi said the dog squad's arrival is timely, and the team will get straight to work tracking down criminals.
"Amazing tracking capability, that's what's going to assist us a great deal here in the Oxley PD [Police District], particularly with the crime we've seen occurring over the past week or so," she said.
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"It's timely and we're excited and he'll be at work straight away and the community can feel confident that we are using all of our resources to the best of our ability to disrupt and respond to crime."
Alpha and his handler have been through rigorous training to get ready for their new roles in the Oxley ranks.
The police pooch is five years old, and has already done his fair share of four-legged crime fighting.
"Our police dog Alpha, who has joined our ranks with his handler, is an experienced dog, so they'll get straight to work here in the Oxley PD and they'll certainly be a critical piece in our toolkit in terms of disrupting and responding to crime in our area," Superintendent Endemi said.
The dynamic duo will help out wherever needed across the entire district, but are particularly handy in the event of property crime or theft.
Superintendent Endemi said it was a timely reminder for the community that police are pulling out all the stops to "eliminate" crime in Tamworth and the region.
"There has certainly been some mistruths reported on social media and that's why I make that plea for the community to work with us, trust in us, because together, the police and the community can achieve great things," she said.
Acting Western Region Commander Brett Greentree said having the canine and specially trained cop in the city was a "real coup" for the region.
"From all accounts, you could not get a better dog to start operations here at the Oxley PD," he said.
Tamworth's police dog unit position had been sitting empty for two years, but local MP Kevin Anderson announced last month that a dog and handler were ready to fill the gap.
It's set to be a case of double trouble for criminals, after Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall announced another dog and officer team are headed for Inverell.
Police and crime reporter at the Newcastle Herald. Email: afalkenmire@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Police and crime reporter at the Newcastle Herald. Email: afalkenmire@austcommunitymedia.com.au
