PD Bravo and PD Chief get ready to hang up their collars after eight years of service

Police dogs are often the ones who find missing persons, track offenders and chase criminals. Meet two of the Gold Coast’s long serving canines.

It’s getting dark. It’s wet. The temperature is rapidly dropping.

The elderly man is still missing.

A man who also has dementia.

Police are out in force searching for him.

It’s a race against the dropping temperature and rising wet.

They need to find this man.

It is where Senior Constable Joseph Alofipo and his loyal, four-pawed partner Bravo come in. The duo join the search.

Bravo, nose close to the ground, picks up a scent.

He is onto something.

Just 300 metres from the missing man’s Burleigh home, success.

Senior Constables Ben Sawden and Joseph Alofipo with their dogs Chief and Bravo ready for action. Picture Glenn Hampson

“We were able to find him and get him back home to safety,” Sen Const Alofipo said.

It is this memory which sticks out in his mind from their about eight-year partnership.

That partnership is about to end with PD Bravo – now eight and a half years old – about to hang up his collar in retirement.

He will not be the only member of the eight-strong Gold Coast dog squad to do their final track in the new year.

Bravos’s half brother, PD Chief – also eight-and-a-half – is also headed to retirement, ready for the quiet life with his handler Senior Constable Ben Sawden.

The imminent split with his long term buddy also has Sen Const Sawden reflecting on his time with his canine.

“In September last year we located a male respondent, a male person who stabbed his wife the night before,” he said.

“About two hours later we tracked a male who was breaking into the police holding yards in Molendinar. Both within two or three hours of each other.”

Senior Constable Joseph Alofipo with his dog Bravo who is about to retire. Picture Glenn Hampson

The two canines have spent their working life with the Queensland Police Service with Sen Const Alofipo and Bravo on the Gold Coast for the entire time.

Sen Const Sawden and Chief spent a short time in Mackay before heading down to the Gold Coast.

Sen Const Alofipo admitted it would be different having a new dog.

“(Bravo) has been such a good dog to me,” he said.

“I have a lot of confidence that he was going to protect the community and protect me as well and make sure I get home safe to my family.

“He’s very chill when he’s at home and when he’s at the back of the car but I know when he is at work he switches on.”

There is no typical day for the canine crews – one day they could be looking for a missing person, the next a juvenile car thief and the next a violent robbery.

While a work day can throw up anything, Cons Sawden said Chief did have a routine on days off.

“A typical day for (Chief) would be to let him out of the kennel, he’ll pay with the ball, muck around with the kids, visit the chooks at the chook pen and yeah … that’s a pretty stock standard day off for Chief,” Sen Const Sawden said.

Senior Constable Ben Sawden with his dog Chief ready for action. Picture Glenn Hampson

The German Shepherd’s favourite toy is a black Kong ball which will happily keep him occupied.

The dog squad go where they are needed, whenever police are trying to track someone.

Each canine is treated like another police officer – right down to being issued with their own badge numbers and swipe cards.

Mostly they keep a low profile.

But in November, 2020, PD Bravo caused a stir when he slipped away from his home at night.

The canine’s deep black coat making him difficult to spot in the dark.

“We were really worried as a family and as a police service we were really worried for his safety and making sure no one else got harmed if they found him,” Sen Const Alofipo said.

After a long search for a day and night, Bravo was found unharmed.

“Relief and a lot of tears from the family.”

Senior Constable Joseph Alofipo with his dog Bravo ready to track. Picture Glenn Hampson

As well as being police dogs, Bravo and Chief are members of their handlers’ families.

They go home with them, play with their kids and take a break from hunting criminals.

“He switches off at home,” Sen Const Sawden said about Chief.

“He is very happy to be a dog at home but at work with his harness on and in the back of the police van he just switches on and he knows it’s work time.”

For PD Chief a part of that is playing with his favourite ball whereas PD Bravo loves to go for a swim.

“He interacts with the kids at home and he really enjoys swimming as well,” Sen Const Alofipo said.

“We go to his favourite lagoon and swim out there.”

It is these activities the dogs will spend their time doing when they retire early next year.

Both are going to remain with their handlers, becoming family pets while new, younger dogs are trained up for work.

Senior Constable Ben Sawden with his dog Chief ready for action. Picture Glenn Hampson

The training course takes about 12 weeks. It costs police about $75,000 to train a dog from a puppy but the returns in reduced man hours and increased safety for officers and the public are priceless.
Sen Const Alofipo has already started that process taking in police recruit Atlas, another German Shepherd, one he hopes will make it through the police training program next year.

“He is a very young dog and I’m training him at the moment,” he said.

“Next year I’ll have him ready for the course and ready to go.”

As to how he gets along with Bravo?

“Oh they have their moments,” Sen Const Alofipo said.

“Luckily they are separated at the moment. He is still getting used to us.”

Sen Const Snowden is waiting for his dog to be assigned but plans to continue with a second dog.

He said part of the process will also be making sure the new police dog gets along with Chief.

Until then, both handlers are going to enjoy the next few months with their canine partners before celebrating their retirement.

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Originally published as PD Bravo and PD Chief get ready to hang up their collars after eight years of service