Vader: APoliceDog Story
After 25 years as a police dog handler, I had my fair share of jobs
After each job, I would often keep a diary of the incidents that I had attended. Many of these jobs were reported in the media and I kept a detailed scrap book over those 25 years so that I could be reminded of my career. I suppose like many people I eventually put them into a book for my family to read. One night and just on a whim I emailed my "book" to Big Sky Publishing who saw the uniqueness of my story and offered me a publishing contract. I was thrilled... and the true crime story Vader: A police Dog Story was born. Police Dog Vader was my 3rd police dog after, PD Buddy and PD Zed. Since Vader I have had PD Axel and PD Jet, all with their own unique stories. It was certainly and action packed career and the book gives and insight into the often dangerous, action packed and unpredictable life of a police dog and its handler. I hope you enjoy reading my book as much as I enjoyed writing it.
David Raymond
In the late 1990s I was stationed at Cairns where I met Dave Raymond a member of the local Queensland Police Service Police Dog Squad Unit. We have kept in touch since then and I am grateful for the opportunity of providing the forward to this book.
My own first operational exposure to the Dog Squad was as a detective in the 1980s on the Sunshine Coast. They had no equal in terms courage, dedication, determination, resilience, skill and resolve.
Policing involves many things but is primarily about providing for the safety and security of the community it serves. As demonstrated in this book it is not possible to do that without putting their own safety at risk. In a sense that becomes a contest where there is no silver medal, no second place, its win or lose. In that contest there is no place for self doubt and the bond between officer and dog is characterised by reciprocal absolute loyalty and trust.
It is a unique bond and at its best it’s as though the handler and dog merge together into one entity with a shared singular focus. As indicated at the books outset the three primary roles for police dogs, general purpose (Dave Raymond’s area), and drug and bomb detection. All are important and this book in its 31 chapters is in my view a representative tribute to the roles of police dogs and their handlers more broadly
A dogs life is short compared to ours and a police dogs operational life even shorter.
The book also provides a recognition not just to Vader but his many four legged colleagues past, current and future.
Apart from the tangible aspects of policing such as rank and awards officers in the course of their careers establish a reputation which relates closely to their internal operational credibility. I feel confident in stating that Dave Raymond’s reputation is up with the best .
Robert (Bob) Atkinson AO APM
Commissioner Queensland Police Service 2000-2012.
