‘Determined and intelligent’: Police Dog Rusty retires after five-year long successful career

The veteran police dog’s best mate has revealed the impressive – and sometimes terrifying – highlights of his brave run on the beat.

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After a triumphant career in nabbing criminals and tracking evidence for the past five years, PD Rusty has hang up his Sabre vest to enjoy some well-deserved rest.

The large German Shepherd – weighing almost 50kg – has capped off his career completing 568 deployments, apprehending 175 offenders, and recovered property worth in excess of $17,000.

Rusty’s good work was rewarded with the biggest bone the butcher could find.

But for Rusty’s first-time dog handler Ben Fisher, the end of their work partnership was an “unexpectedly emotional” experience.

Mr Fisher said Rusty was his “best mate” who has been his “shadow 90 per cent of time”.

“It’s going to be hard leaving him behind and going to work without him,” Mr Fisher said.

Handler Ben Fisher with his recently retired PD Rusty. Picture: Supplied.

PD Rusty has hung up his Sabre vest for some well-deserved rest. Picture: SA Police.

Looking back, Mr Fisher recalled the first time the pair was sent out on a job before graduation.

Rusty proved himself to be an “intelligent” and “determined” police dog.

It was 2020 and they were tasked with tracking down a man who had stolen a vehicle.

Mr Fisher said Rusty had sniffed out the perp in the boot of a different car.

However, when they called the police officers, they couldn’t open the boot and almost gave up on the endeavour.

“I remember thinking back to my training and we were always taught to trust our dogs … although I was worried that I would look like a fool if Rusty got this wrong,” Mr Fisher said.

“But I took that chance and insisted the other (officers) come back and open the boot and sure enough – we found the guy.”

PD Rusty has hung up his Sabre vest for some well-deserved rest. Picture: Supplied.

Yet not every job was this simple for the pair.

Mr Fisher recounted a frightening incident where Rusty was stabbed with a screwdriver after becoming entangled in a brawl with a man in Findon in August 2022.

“There was this fella who had been caught trying to break into houses and cars but he kept evading police for ages,” Mr Fisher said.

“So I organised a plan with the patrols, where I would covertly go to the area and see if the guy would come again … and he did.

“When Rusty and I confronted the guy he tried to run away so I let go of Rusty’s lead, which is a signal to them essentially to bite and they get into this decent fight, Rusty was hanging off the bloke.

PD Rusty has hung up his Sabre vest for some well-deserved rest. Picture: Supplied.

PD Rusty has hung up his Sabre vest for some well-deserved rest. Picture: Supplied.

“But then I saw the guy actually pulled a screwdriver from somewhere and was absolutely laying into Rusty.”

Mr Fisher joined Rusty, engaging in a fight with the man for two and a half minutes, before the offender was packed away in handcuffs.

Fortunately, Rusty’s Sabre vest kept him safe from harm.

Mr Fisher commended Rusty’s performance then as “absolutely unbelievable”.

Now Rusty joins a charity organisation established by handler Brevet Sergeant Tina Hunt, called Retired Police Dogs SA.

As SA Police does not cover retired PD vet expenses, the charity ensures these dogs that have protected the community get the medical procedures and vaccinations they need after completing their service.

Originally published as ‘Determined and intelligent’: Police Dog Rusty retires after five-year long successful career