Police pup Patto now qualified crime-fighter

A puppy donated to police in memory of a York officer, Pc Keith Pattison, is now a fully qualified crime-fighter.

Patto, a German shepherd, was gifted to North Yorkshire Police’s dog section at the age of eight weeks. Now, fourteen months on, he has qualified to work as a police dog, trained to sniff out suspects, find missing people and help keep the communities of North Yorkshire safe.

Pc Pattison died unexpectedly in January 2013 while a serving police officer with North Yorkshire Police and his family chose to donate a puppy as a way to remember him and ensure his name lived on in the police service.

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Sergeant Simon Whitby of North Yorkshire Police’s Dog Section, said of Patto: ”He has the perfect temperament for a police dog and passed his exams with flying colours.

“He is a fitting tribute to a valued and much missed colleague.”

Patto met up with members of Pc Pattison’s family including his daughter Katie and two-year-old grandson Finley, shortly after he passed his exams.

Katie said: “Patto is a great reminder of my dad – he would be thrilled to have another crime-fighter named after him.”

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Pc Pattison died after falling from the loft in his home. He was thought to be making a good recovery but later took a turn for the worse. He joined North Yorkshire Police in 1990 and he spent the majority of his service working in the Selby district as a uniformed constable.