Tribute Pups Named in Honor of Fallen Officer Matt
Seven German Shepherd puppies have been born as a lasting tribute to Matt, a brave cop fatally shot at Croydon Custody Centre in September 2020. The Met Police Commissioner paid a heartfelt visit to the Keston Dog Training Establishment alongside Matt’s partner, Su, who personally chose the pups’ names to honour him.
Puppies Begin Training to Become London’s New Police Heroes
The seven pups—four females and three males—were born on 24 March and have since met their VIP visitors. They have now been assigned to handlers to start a rigorous 12-month training course, preparing them to join the Met’s elite police dog force. Su named the males Matiu (after Matt), Carter, and Jonah, and the females Kora, Blu, Valentine, and Whanau.
These pups come from top canine bloodlines: their parents are police dogs Prada “Storm” and Pascalz “Pax”. They’re expected to hit London’s streets in about three months, with Su invited back for their graduation parade in May 2022.
From Tracking Suspects to Finding Weapons—A Vital Role
As general purpose police dogs, these pups will spend their days tracking human scents, locating suspects, and sniffing out dangerous weapons like guns and knives. They join a mighty force of 210 operational Met police dogs, including German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois specially trained for armed operations and public order policing.
The Met also deploys around 100 search dogs—English Springer Spaniels, Cocker Spaniels, and Sprockers—who sniff out drugs, money, and explosives. Each police dog lives with their handler and their family, forming a tight-knit team dedicated to keeping London safe.
Commissioner Cressida Dick Pays Warm Tribute
“Matt was much loved and respected, and this is just one of the ways for the Met to acknowledge and remember his service and courage. These puppies will one day be fully trained police dogs, out at all hours searching for missing people, criminals, and weapons,” said Commissioner Dick.
“These dogs and their handlers are invaluable. Without them, many criminals would escape justice and crucial evidence would remain hidden. Thanks to their work, London’s streets are safer.”
