At the end of the week Sergeant Darryn Conroy and his partner Police Dog Ice will retire from the South Australia Police together.
Sergeant Conroy has been a member of the SA Police Dog Operations Unit for more than 26 years, having graduated from the police academy in 1984.
He spent time in a variety of roles, including working in Murray Bridge, Port Pirie and Nuriootpa before joining the Dog Squad (as it was then known).
Over the years since he has been partnered with six dogs – four German Shepherds and two Labradors.
His current dog Ice joined the Dog Operations Unit, along with three litter mates from New Zealand (all with monikers starting with the letter ‘i’) in July 2012.
PD Ice was developed through the DOU Puppy Development Program and in May 2013 was allocated to Sergeant Conroy and they then completed the General Purpose Police Dog Training Course.
Police dogs generally retire from active service with SA Police between the age of seven or eight, with Ice now aged seven, hence the dual retirement.
Ice will remain with Sergeant Conroy in his retirement, which today he said would see him spending time with his grandchildren and enjoying some travel.
During his active service, PD Ice has been deployed 240 times, has apprehended 39 offenders and cleared 153 offences.
Inspector David Scutchings, the STAR Group operations manager, said it was unusual for a dog and handler to retire together.
“They have both given exemplary service to the community of South Australia,” he said.
