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Senior Constable Bruce Lamb, pictured together with his son Michael Lamb after his commencement from Police College in Porirua in 2015.
Celebrated police canine handler Bruce Lamb has died whereas on a searching journey with pals.
Lamb, who had been within the police for 45 years, was within the Ashburton Lakes space when he died on Tuesday night time.
Relieving Canterbury district commander Corrie Parnell stated the information was devastating.
“Bruce passed away last night whilst on a hunting trip with friends. It is hard to put into words the depth of loss that individuals and teams will experience across all of NZ Police in response to this tragic news.
“Bruce has been part of our Canterbury police family for 45 years and was one of New Zealand Police’s longest-serving dog handlers.”
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Lamb, a father of three kids – two of whom are cops – was embellished after he was shot within the jaw and knocked to the bottom in 2010 in what ought to have been a routine drug warrant in Phillipstown, Christchurch.
Lamb’s canine Gage leapt in direction of the offender as he pointed the firearm at him and was shot.
John Kirk-Anderson/The Press
Senior Constable Bruce Lamb, pictured in 2010, together with his canine Milo and an award he obtained on behalf of Gage, his earlier canine who was shot and killed.
He died on the scene. The offender then turned his gun on Constable Mitch Alatalo, taking pictures him within the leg.
“Gage was probably the best patrol dog I’ve ever worked,” Lamb stated of his canine.
Gage was later awarded a PDSA Gold Medal for bravery.
Lamb was shot at 3 times in his profession and was additionally first on the scene at one among New Zealand’s first lively shooter occasions, the place a person was shot in Cathedral Square in 1989.
Paying tribute following his demise, Parnell stated: “He was well known and well respected across the organisation and in the communities he served.
Maarten Holl/Stuff
Senior Constable Bruce Lamb and his detector dog Mylo competing at the Police Patrol and Detector Dog Championships at Trentham in 2014.
“Of course, this loss will be felt most deeply by his close-knit family, his friends and his dog section colleagues. Our love and prayers are with them.
“Bruce dedicated his life to policing, a passion he shared with his family. There are many things he will be remembered for – a real family man and a police officer through and through who got himself into more than his fair share of ‘hairy’ situations.
“We are in contact with Bruce’s family and are providing all the support we can as they come to terms with this tragic loss.Bruce was loved by many and this news will come as a shock, especially to those who worked closely with him.”
Lamb joined the police at 18 in 1978, happening to serve for 35 years within the canine part.
He had seven dogs, numerous which have been AOS-trained.
In later years Lamb labored with detector dogs discovering medication. He and Luther, a black labrador, went on to search out $168,000 in a single haul within the lining of a automobile door.
Lamb’s son Michael continued within the household custom, graduating from the Dog Training Centre at Trentham in 2021.
His different son Christopher can be within the drive. In 2021 Christopher paid tribute to his father’s service, saying: “Growing up around dad and seeing someone that was respected by us kids, who was respected by the community and who just loved going to work, meant joining [the] police was never a hard choice for me.
“He loves his career and now I’m loving mine. When I was frontline and dad was at work it was always funny and quite cute that when I got assigned a job, and dad was not busy, DOGS 16 would perk up on the radio and say they could ‘float that way’.”
