MEET
RPD Tsar
German Shepherd
Sussex Police
General Purpose
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT RETIRED POLICE DOG TSAR
RPD Tsar joined Sussex Police in 2021 as a general purpose dog and, the following year, became a firearms support dog.
He had a decorated career and, in 2023, won Sussex Police Dog of the Year and was awarded the NPCC Police Dog Team Operational and Humanitarian Action of the Year Award at Crufts for his role in the immediate apprehension, which resulted in a conviction, of a murder suspect.
His handler said: “Tsar served with distinction and had 29 bites in the course of his operation career, and was credited with over 100 detentions/arrests in his short career.
“His service was sadly cut short due to deterioration of his knee and the cartilage around it.”


“He was an outstanding tracker and would not tire or give up. He was brave, determined and, once he had located a suspect, he saw that they never got away or harmed anyone.
“He saw everything as a game and was very determined to win everything.”
He retired in June 2026 and was adopted by Odette Forbes and her family – who puppy walked him as a youngster.
She said: “We originally puppy walked Tsar so it’s a full circle for us now we get to spend his retirement with him after starting him on his very award-winning journey at seven-weeks-old all those years ago!”
Due to his knee injury, his handler suggested Odette sign Tsar up to the Foundation.

“The Thin Blue Paw is a charity close to our heart. Our first police puppy, Phantom, was on Britain’s Got Talent with RPD Finn to help raise awareness of Finn’s Law.”
Odette, Tsar’s owner
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