Wiltshire Police Dog Unit Sergeant Ian Partington has received the National Police Chiefs' Council’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Ian joined Merseyside Police 50 years ago in 1975, and has remained in front line operational roles throughout his career, including both response policing and the Merseyside full-time Territorial Support Group (TSG).
In 1986, whilst in the TSG, Ian was promoted to sergeant. Six years later he entered into the specialism of the Merseyside Dog Section, and was deployed to multiple high-threat and high-risk deployments including the Toxteth Riots, the violent confrontation in Orgreave in 1984 during the Miners' Strike, and an IRA bomb threat at the Grand National in 1997.
Ian transferred to Wiltshire Police in 1998 as the Dog Section Sergeant, and remained in the Dog Section as a serving handler with all types of police dogs in addition to being a deployable handler.
Ian transferred to Wiltshire Police in 1998 as the Dog Section Sergeant, and remained in the Dog Section as a serving handler with all types of police dogs in addition to being a deployable handler.
Ian took on the additional task of being the force dog trainer whilst in the ranks of both sergeant and inspector. Throughout Ian's career in the two forces, he has deployed operationally to thousands of incidents, to numerous mutual aid requests, and to national high-profile events and operations.
In 2006, after 31 years of service, Ian retired as a police officer and became the dog section trainer, continuing the role he loved so much. In 2014, he took on the role of dog trainer for the Tri-Force Specialist Operations, a collaboration of specialist operations across Avon and Somerset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Police.
Ian was instrumental in not only training dog handlers but also the trainers, many of whom train to this day across three police forces. Throughout this time, Ian has been an active member of the National Police Chiefs' Council working groups surrounding this area of policing.
Supt Steve Cox, who recommended Ian for the award, said: "Ian takes immense pride that he has passed and continues to pass on his years of knowledge and skills, and nothing gives him more pleasure than seeing his handlers having successful deployments, winning awards at trials, and quite simply watching them develop and improve.
"Ian has dedicated 50 years of his life to the police service, 31 years as a police officer, 19 years as a civilian member of staff, and, amazingly, 33 years within the Dog Section specialism.
"Ian is an amazing person; he is passionate and hard-working, and to this date, he continues to deliver his role to the highest standards."
Ian was honoured with the award at the National Police Dog Trials earlier this month and is set to begin his well-earned retirement in the summer.
In 2006, after 31 years of service, Ian retired as a police officer and became the dog section trainer, continuing the role he loved so much. In 2014, he took on the role of dog trainer for the Tri-Force Specialist Operations, a collaboration of specialist operations across Avon and Somerset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Police.
Ian was instrumental in not only training dog handlers but also the trainers, many of whom train to this day across three police forces. Throughout this time, Ian has been an active member of the National Police Chiefs' Council working groups surrounding this area of policing.
Supt Steve Cox, who recommended Ian for the award, said: "Ian takes immense pride that he has passed and continues to pass on his years of knowledge and skills, and nothing gives him more pleasure than seeing his handlers having successful deployments, winning awards at trials, and quite simply watching them develop and improve.
"Ian has dedicated 50 years of his life to the police service, 31 years as a police officer, 19 years as a civilian member of staff, and, amazingly, 33 years within the Dog Section specialism.
"Ian is an amazing person; he is passionate and hard-working, and to this date, he continues to deliver his role to the highest standards."
Ian was honoured with the award at the National Police Dog Trials earlier this month and is set to begin his well-earned retirement in the summer.
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