'He has given everything to protect the West Midlands and beyond' - Long serving police dog handler retires after distinguished career

PC Carl Woodall has spent the majority of his 28-year policing career on the dog unit, having started his career on the dog unit in 2002 when he was partnered up with Police Dog Riggs. 

The pair were one of the first handler and dog duo to attain their firearms support license in force and went on to have a great career together.

PC Woodall was also paired up with PD Blitz and together the pair found 11 people hiding in a factory where scrap metal was being stolen, and even found one man hiding up a tree.

PC Woodall has had ten operational dogs and had some great results during his career, but said he couldn’t pick a favourite though, as each dog has been part of the family.

He said: “When you’re partnered up with a police dog, you know they have your back and you have theirs. 

"The bond is unbreakable.”

This bond was especially shown when he and PD Swift were deployed to the Aston Villa vs Legia Warsaw game in November 2023, with their hard work recognised and the pair awarded a Chief Constable’s commendation.

PC Woodall and Belgian Malinois Swift also had a moment to remember in 2021 when after a stolen car failed to stop for traffic officers in Tipton, PC Woodall and Swift joined the pursuit. The driver eventually abandoned the car and attempted to run on foot away from police.

However, the suspect did not anticipate PC Woodall and Swift being part of the pursuit and within minutes he was detained just as he tried to jump over a fence.

Over the years, PC Woodall and his dogs have supported high profile events such as the Olympics, Cop 26 and the Nato summit.

He has also been deployed to Project Servator deployments at the airport with Cocker Spaniel PD Chase, who would often show off his search skills to families and visitors travelling through Birmingham Airport.

Chief Inspector Dan Lowe, from West Midlands Police Operations Unit, said: “PC Woodall and the police dogs he has had over the years have been involved in detaining hundreds of offenders and have supported many high profile events.

"The unit will really miss him. 

"He has given everything to protect the West Midlands and beyond. 

“We hope he enjoys his well-earned retirement. He really deserves it."