Current timestamp: 27/05/2022 19:24:37
AgeAlertAnonymousAppealsApplicationsApply Or RegisterArea OutlineArrow DownArrow LeftArrow RightArrow UpAutomatic DoorsBack ArrowBusinessCalendarCashArrow DownArrow LeftArrow RightArrow Down[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-chrome' for 'English (United Kingdom)']ClockCloseContactDirectionsDocumentDownloadDrawDrugExpandExternal LinkFacebookFb CommentFb LikeFiletype DefaultFiletype DocFiletype PdfFiletype PptFiletype XlsFinance[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-firefox' for 'English (United Kingdom)']First AidFlickrFraudGive FeedbackGlobeGuide DogHealthHearing ImpairedInduction LoopInfoInstagramIntercom[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-internet-explorer' for 'English (United Kingdom)']LaptopLiftLinkedinLocal ActivityLoudspeakerLow CounterMailMapMap PinMembershipMenuMenu 2[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-microsoft-edge' for 'English (United Kingdom)']Missing PeopleMobility ImpairmentNationalityNorth PointerOne Mile RadiusOverviewPagesPaper PlaneParkingPdfPhonePinterestPlayPushchairRefreshReportRequestRestart[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-rotate-clockwise' for 'English (United Kingdom)']Rss[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-safari' for 'English (United Kingdom)']SearchShareSign LanguageSnapchatStart AgainStatsStats And Prevention AdviceStopSubscribeTargetTattosTell Us AboutTickTumblrTwenty Four HoursTwitterTwitter LikeTwitter ReplyTwitter RetweetUploadVisually ImpairedWhatsappWheelchairWheelchair AssistedWheelchair ParkingWheelchair RampWheelchair WcYoutubeZoom InZoom Out

Quickly exit this site by pressing the Escape key Leave this site

Skip to main content

Skip to main navigation

Welcome

This site is a beta, which means it's a work in progress and we'll be adding more to it over the next few weeks. Your feedback helps us make things better, so please let us know what you think.

Show me the site

essex-logo-217

Search this website

Main navigation menu

  • Report

    Back to Report

    • Crime
    • Domestic abuse
    • Breach of coronavirus (Covid-19) measures
    • Road traffic incident
    • Antisocial behaviour
    • Missing person
    • Fraud, bribery or corruption
    • Civil disputes
    • Lost or found property
    • Lost or stolen vehicles
  • Tell us about

    Back to Tell us about

    • How to tell us about possible terrorist activity
    • How to tell us about something you've seen or heard
    • An existing case or report
    • A procession or event you are planning
    • Filming
    • Abnormal vehicle load
    • Possible breach of coronavirus (Covid-19) measures
  • Apply or register

    Back to Apply or register

    • Careers
    • Charity collection licences
    • Compensation for victims of crime
    • Firearm, shotgun or explosives certificate
    • Register as an overseas visitor
    • Attend a misconduct hearing
  • Request

    Back to Request

    • A collision report
    • Intellectual property (IP) licence
    • Your fingerprints
    • Information: about the police, about yourself or someone else
  • Thanks and complaints

    Back to Thanks and complaints

    • Complaints
    • Thanks
    • Feedback about the website
  • Your area

Breadcrumb

  1. ...
  2. News

Feering: Our police dogs grant one of Samuel’s wishes

Main article content

Navigation

News

16:12 18/01/2022

A young boy and girl with a trainee police dog Labrador puppy
Samuel and Betsy Bethell with Trainee Police Dog Dakota

 

Brave young Samuel Bethell had one of his wishes come true when he visited our Dog Section with his family and watched our police dogs training with their handlers.

Samuel, seven, had undergone three open heart surgeries by the time he was four and his mum Victoria Gibson says doctors have told the family the likelihood of him reaching his 10th birthday is slim.

“We sat down and told him and he just took it in his stride. I said ‘Life is short and you have to do as much as you can’ and then asked him what he wanted to do.
“We started to make a list, called it his Wish List and started fundraising for it. One of them was to meet every animal on the planet but he’s got quite a lot of other wishes, too!”
Victoria Gibson

One of Samuel’s friends is the son of one of our officers and when she heard of his wish to meet animals, she arranged for him to visit our Dog Section in Sandon.

And on Sunday, Samuel went along with his mum, his dad Rick and sisters Daisy, 11, and Betsy, six, to meet some of our police dogs and see them training.

After first having a tour of a police car - sitting in it, touching the buttons and switching the lights on - it was time to meet a couple of our new police puppies and then watch PC Ross Ashcroft & Police Dog Armour, Sgt Jamie Edwards & Police Dog Diesel and PC Mark Rickwood & Police Dog Hugo run through some training exercises.

A family group of one boy, two girls, a woman and a man watch a uniformed police officer and his dog searching a wall
Betsy, Samuel and Daisy with mum Victoria Gibson, dad Rick Bethell watch as dog handler PC Mark Rickwood puts Police Dog Hugo through his paces

 

“The kids absolutely loved it. They were shown around the cars and then met the dogs and watched them training and searching a house.
“Samuel was absolutely amazed. He was shocked by how big the Alsatians are and remarked on their pointy teeth. He said to me ‘I’m going to be a really good boy, Mummy, so they don’t have to come for me’.
“We also watched two of the puppies who are brothers running around the field and Samuel said it was just like him and Betsy playing.
“We had a really good time, thanks to the dogs and their handlers.”
Victoria Gibson

A young boy wearing an Essex Police Dog Section training jacket
Samuel wearing one of the jackets Essex Police dog handlers wear when training their police dogs

 

“It was lovely to meet the family and help Samuel achieve one of his wishes of meeting as many animals as possible. I think the highlight of the visit for Samuel was getting to meet and walk Trainee Police Dog Aldo and Trainee Police Dog Dakota, two energetic Labradors. They even played hide and seek with Police Dog Diesel.”
Dog Section Sergeant Paul Screech

Victoria was 22 weeks pregnant when she was told Samuel had four life-threatening heard conditions and, initially, doctors told her he might not survive birth and, if he did, he might only live for 20 minutes.

However, Samuel proved he was a fighter and had his first open-heart surgery at just six days old, with another two operations by the time he was four.

“He’s been through a hell of a lot already but you wouldn’t know there was anything wrong with him.
“He’s just a normal, bubbly seven-year-old boy who wants to play with his friends all the time. We have to tell him to stop because we know before he does that he’s getting tired.
“He’s like a bagful of beans – he just won’t stop. It’s why he got on with the police dogs so well. He and Betsy tried to chase them but, of course, the dogs were faster than they were.”
Victoria Gibson

As well as raising money to pay for Samuel’s Last Crusade so the family, who live in Feering, can help Samuel realise as many of his wishes as possible, Victoria, Rick and Samuel’s nan Sue are planning to join a charity Walkie Talkie Tower Climb to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital, which has done so much for Samuel.

 

Keep updated: Like, Follow, Share

To keep updated about the work our officers and staff do, day in and day out across Essex, to help people, keep you safe and catch criminals, Like, Follow and Share our posts on social media and sign up to receive our weekly newsletter.

Find out more at: www.essex.police.uk/socialmedia

A uniformed police officer with a police Alsatian and a family group comprising a young boy, two young girls, a man and a woman
PC Ross Ashcroft and Police Dog Armour with, from left, Rick, Samuel, Daisy, Victoria and Betsy

 

Share

Other news this month

  • Chelmsford: UPDATE Man charged with murder
  • Colchester: Update on cannabis cultivation in High Street
  • Southend: Four arrested in child exploitation investigation
  • Advice on good dog ownership
  • We're backing the Guardian Angel initiative for people with dementia
  • Braintree: Officers trial new anti-drug spray
  • Cyclists and Highway Code changes
  • Continued investment sees RPU get new vehicles

Is there a problem with this page?

Footer navigation

We use cookies on this site to give you a better, more personalised experience.

I'm fine with cookies I'd like to manage the cookies

Essex Police

  • Contact us
  • About us
  • Careers
  • News
  • Campaigns
  • Privacy notice
  • Cookies
  • Terms and conditions
  • Accessibility

Information and services

  • Advice and information
  • Crime prevention
  • Stats and data
  • Accessing information (FOI)
  • Report
  • Tell us about
  • Apply or register
  • Request
  • Thanks and complaints

Partners

  • Police.uk
  • Ask the Police
  • Police and Crime Commissioner

Follow us on:

© Copyright 2022. All rights reserved.