General News
14 September, 2025
Dog squad cop saluted
AFTER 36 years and three months, the policing era has come to an end for retiring officer-in-charge of the Cairns dog squad, Sergeant Dave Raymond.
Last week Sg Raymond was farewelled by Far North officers and staff with a guard of honour on his final shift.
He was inducted into the Queensland Police Service on 29 May, 1989.
He dedicated his entire career to serving Far North Queensland, working at Cairns and Smithfield police stations before being appointed as a senior constable dog handler in the Cairns dog squad on 8 March, 1999.
Sg Raymond become the officer-in-charge of the dog squad in December 2010.
During his 25 years as a dog handler, Sergeant Raymond looked after five German shepherd general purpose (GP) police dogs - PD Buddy, PD Zed, PD Vader, PD Axel and PD Jet.
He has received countless awards during his policing career including, but not limited to, the Queensland Police Exemplary Conduct Award (2025), Queensland Police Service Valor Award (2005), Australian Bravery Decoration (2006), Australian Bravery Decoration – Commendation for Brave Conduct (2021), the 35-year clasp to the QLD Police Service Medal (2020) and the Australian Police Medal for exemplary service (2023).
Sgt Raymond also serves his community in other ways, including as a karate instructor for decades and being involved in countless community programs such as Project Recognise (recognising community members for outstanding contributions) and fundraising for the installation of the first automated external defibrillator (AED) in Goldsborough Valley.
Sgt Raymond was involved in the establishment of the police dog memorial at Aeroglen Park and the naming of the Mal McKaskill Dog Park, long lasting legacies of the contribution of the dog squad to the Cairns community.
Sgt Raymond and his son were awarded the Australian Bravery Award after they scaled a burning apartment building and rescued a dog during a Gold Coast family holiday in 2019.
In 2004, Sgt Raymond was awarded an Australian Bravery medal for his efforts in the saving of a youth from floodwaters at Goldsborough.
The Raymond family along with officers and staff lined the driveway of the Cairns Police station to bid Sergeant Raymond farewell.
Sgt Raymond said he was “completely humbled by the last couple of days with my retirement from the QPS”.
