Police dog named in honour of schoolboy who lost battle to cancer

A new West Midlands Police dog has been named in memory of a wannabe young cop who lost his battle against brain cancer.

The German Shepherd has been called after 11-year-old Finlay Church who raised more than £150,000 for Brain Tumour Research and Birmingham Children’s Hospital before his passing in November 2015.

The police-mad schoolboy from Birmingham helped organise a series of fundraisers after his diagnosis - including a world record for the Longest Line of Teddies.

West Midlands Police said he made an 'unforgettable' impression on staff after fulfilling an ambition to spend a couple of days with the force. And it’s led to the force’s Dog Unit naming one of its latest crime-fighting recruits ’Finn’ in his honour.

Police staff surprised Finlay’s family by arriving at his old Alvechurch Middle School with the 12-week-old pup last Friday (31 March) while they were organising a fundraising Wear A Hat Day in aid of brain tumour research.Finlay’s mum Penny said:

Sergeant Phil McMullen - who has taken part in some of the charity events - said: