Halifax ex-cop gets 9/11 award for actions that led to his suspension

The same actions that led to a Halifax cop being fired have now earned him an award.

The Halifax Daily News reported Tuesday that Jamie Symington and his dog Trakr received the Extraordinary Service to Humanity Award for their search-and-rescue efforts at Ground Zero in New York City in 2001.

Scientist Jane Goodall presented the award Saturday in New York.

Symington got into a legal dispute with Halifax Regional Police after he took part in the 9/11 rescue efforts while on stress leave.

Symington joined Halifax police in November 1988 but was suspended in September 2001 after managers saw him on TV at Ground Zero with his retired police dog.

He'd been on leave since June of that year.

The American foundation that bestowed the award on Symington urged Canadian authorities to investigate his case, saying that Symington and Trakr offered much needed help in the days after the 9/11 terror attacks.

Const. Mark Hobeck, of Halifax police, said he couldn't comment on the civil case while it's before the courts.

Symington currently lives in Los Angeles.