In Memory of Bryn, Killed While on Duty in September 2006

Bryn was born on July 15 1998, and given the kennel name of Stan’s Lad. At ten weeks old he was abandoned by the breeder at a veterinary practice in Burry Port. The practice nurse fell in love with the puppy and took it home. Renamed Cromwell, the dog was taken to obedience classes but was expelled after the instructor tied him to a radiator to teach him a lesson, and he pulled it off the wall and flooded the area.

The nurse was at her wits end. She still loved him even though he had ruined her landscaped garden, and she couldn't take him for a walk anymore as the last time he dragged her twenty yards down the road.

She saw an advert for police dogs in South Wales. They asked Dyfed-Powys Police if they could view the dog for them. PC Andy Edwards was without a dog and when he went to see Cromwell he took him there and then, just in case someone else came to see him.

Bryn the New Recruit

The new recruit needed to have a name as Cromwell was too long. Bryn is Welsh for "top of the hill" and one of the first dog handlers in Dyfed Powys was called Bryn Phillips.

Training lasted the normal ten weeks. It became apparent that Bryn wasn't just any old dog - his standard was exceptional. He passed his Home Office accreditation tests and was licensed. During the next six years or so Bryn was operational, looking after his handler. He was also trained to be a firearms support dog, being able to carry the camera equipment on his head, and as a command and control dog for the firearms team.

Bryn's Achievements

It would be impossible to detail all of his good jobs of which there are many. His total prisoner count was well over 100. Some of his achievements included:

• Bryn was off duty having a leisurely walk in the fields surrounding HQ. Sirens were heard in the town, the helicopter took off and was hovering over Llangunnor. PC Edwards returned to the van and asked on the radio if he could be of assistance. Officers at the scene had arrested a member of a gang which had burgled a home in the area. No-one could find the other three, who had made off into the fields. Bryn picked up the track and followed it across the field, into the hedge, up a small stream and into the rear gardens of a property. Movement could be seen in the fir trees. They ran away when a challenge was shouted. Bryn was released, followed by PC Edwards. Bryn detained the fastest one, the other two were found quivering in the trees. All the stolen property was recovered.

• Officers in Llanelli disturbed two boys in Trostre industrial estate, who made good their escape. Bryn arrived at the scene a short time later. He soon picked up the scent, which ran behind Jenkins bakery and then into a compound full of scrap vehicles. PC Edwards shouted a warning and Bryn was released to search the compound. Bryn started barking and screams of help were heard. Bryn had found one of the two underneath a scrap lorry. Once the prisoner was handed over Bryn went back on to his tracking line to find the other one. He took PC Edwards through a hole in the fence, along another compound and into the potato suppliers compound, where he found the missing villain hiding in a stack of pallets.

• Bryn was sent to a farm near Tipi valley. A woman had been badly assaulted by her husband, who ran off across the fields when the police arrived. It was feared that he would wait in the fields and then return to again assault his wife. The rear door opened directly onto a field full of sheep. Bryn was away straight through the sheep without batting an eyelid. He jumped over a wire fence into an empty field, straight across the field and over the next fence into a small wooded area. Bryn found the farmer.

Commendation

It is impossible to do Bryn justice and mention all of his good work. During his loyal service he has received numerous letters of appreciation from the chief officers.

The Chief Constable has commended Bryn twice, the first was in October 2002 when Bryn tracked an man critically injured in a fight from a public house in Hendy. He tracked along the roadway, across a boggy field, through brambles and along a railway line. Bryn found him lying unconscious at the side of the track. He would have lost his life had he not been found.

The second was for his final actions when Bryn saved the life of his colleagues, but tragically lost his own.

He was a truly outstanding animal, who is sadly missed by all who had the pleasure to know him and work with him.