A Staffordshire Bull Terrier rescued from the streets is one of the first dogs of its breed to join the police force.
Two-year-old staffie Cooper has been specially-trained to find cash, drugs and firearms, and has bagged himself a spot at Staffordshire Police.
The pooch lived on the streets before being rescued by the RSPCA, and joined the service this year - he has impressively already helped hunt down more than £250,000 worth of heroin and cocaine.
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His handler, PC Tim Moss, says that the four-legged cop is already changing the negative perceptions sadly surrounding dogs of the same breed.
PC Moss said: "Cooper was on the streets, he was picked up by RSPCA and was with them for seven months. It's an amazing story - one day he was in the kennels, and now he's a fully-fledged police dog.
"I have had Cooper since March 2018 and he joined the force the following month.
"I'm extremely privileged to have him - he's an amazing dog and we have an amazing bond. It feels really good to have a staffie on the force."
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According to his handler, Cooper is one of the best police dogs in the county where he has become something of an A-lister.
Even so, PC Moss says that a huge proportion of people don't realise how incredible staffies can be. He says despite the negative attention the breed can bring, this is normally down to the owners - rather than the pup.
He continued: "Owners don't always have experience with this breed of dog, which can be where some of the stereotypes about staffies come from.
"The houses that we go into mainly have staffies so it's a good step to be on side with them.
"Having PD Cooper when doing a raid because it's a great ice breaker, people are always shocked that we are working a staffie - as either they have or they know someone who has one.
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"But it's weird, I have a Belgian Shepherd too and people stay on the same side of the road when I'm walking him, but when I'm walking Cooper people tend to cross to the opposite side.
"Staffies are very unique. I can say with PD Cooper he is very keen to learn and eager to please, he has a very high ball drive, and is very energetic. These are what is looked for in a working dog."
Cooper lives with PC Moss and his family as a pet, not just a working dog.
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He said: "When people found out I was getting a staff, they were made up. My partner and child love him.
"When I heard there was a staff coming into the force, straight away I knew I'd love to have him. We have an incredible bond."
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