A memorial will be erected in honor of a heroic police dog who saved his handler’s life, according to his owner.
Finn, a German shepherd known as Police Dog (PD) Finn, was severely injured in 2016 while protecting his handler, PC Dave Wardell, during a confrontation with an armed suspect in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Although PC Wardell was stabbed, he believes that without Finn’s intervention, the injuries could have been far worse.
After recovering from his injuries, Finn continued to serve for a short time before passing away in 2023 at the age of 14. Following a fundraising campaign, plans are now in motion to create a permanent statue in his honor.
On October 5, 2016, PC Wardell and Finn were searching for a suspected armed robber who had held up a taxi driver at gunpoint. The chase ended with Finn seriously injured and PC Wardell with a stab wound. While both recovered, the traumatic incident left a lasting impact.
Since retiring, Mr. Wardell has campaigned not only for a memorial to Finn, but also for increased recognition of service animals. His efforts led to the creation of “Finn’s Law” in 2019, which makes it more difficult for individuals who harm service animals to claim they acted in self-defense.
“I owe my life to him,” said Mr. Wardell, speaking about the upcoming memorial. “This is his legacy—both this and Finn’s Law.”
Though Mr. Wardell has found the right sculptor for the statue, he is keeping details about the artist and the exact location private for now.
He added, “This will live well beyond my years. It will allow people to pay their respects and learn about Finn’s story, as well as the vital work that police dogs do for this country.”