Police dog described as 'fierce protector' retires

PD Wez graduated from West Midlands Police's dog training unit in Balsall Common

A West Midlands Police dog described as a "fierce protector" has retired following a seven-year career that saw him take down thieves, armed robbers and car jackers.

PD Wez retired from duty after turning nine this week and had served his force since the age of two when he graduated from the dog training unit in Balsall Common.

The German Shepherd will now spend his retirement with PC Marie Darby after they spent the last seven years working together.

PC Darby said: "I'm so proud of Wez and what we have achieved together as partners. He is an amazing police dog and partner, and I will miss working with him."

She added: "But I'm so happy that he gets to spend his retirement at home with me. Our police dogs are amazing, and we simply couldn't do this job without them."

Wez wasted no time in getting started when on his second day he detained a thief who tried to run from a stolen vehicle in Oldbury.

In 2020, Wez detained a suspected armed robber attempting to flee a crime scene in a car.

Wez and his handler blocked in the car and detained the man as he tried to run off.

A Taser, machete and CS gas were recovered from the vehicle, and following a search of the suspect's home, Wez also found a second suspect who was hiding.

That same year, the dog detained a car-jacking suspect in Walsall.

And in 2023, Wez helped detain two suspects in the case of a knifepoint robbery in Birmingham city centre.

A spokesperson for West Midlands Police acknowledged that on "more than one occasion" Wez had jumped in to protect his colleagues.

In 2021, he stepped in after a man armed with a steering lock and baton assaulted officers. The suspect tried to run off, but Wez was able to chase him down.

Last summer, Wez stepped up to protect his colleagues after a suspect drove at officers injuring two of them. Wez detained the driver before anyone else got hurt.