On Monday, PC Price was carrying out patrols in Netley when she stumbled across a small spotted catshark, also known as a dogfish, on the shore.
A spokesperson for Hedge End Police said: “Fearing the worst, she went over to investigate. As she approached, she realised it was still alive, and knew there was only one thing to do. Return it to the location from which it came.”
PC Price carefully picked up the shark and returned it to the water, where it “swam off immediately”.
In a light-hearted social media post, officers described the encounter as a “Shark Tale” moment during an otherwise routine patrol.
They said the officer had been out engaging with the community and responding to incidents when she came across the stranded animal.
The force added that saving marine life is not part of the job description, but the quick-thinking response helped save the animal.