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Died 5/27/16
Handler – Officer Neil Cridge
Findlay loses long-serving K-9 Officer Axel
Officer Neil Cridge and members of the Findlay Police Department are mourning the loss of one of their own. The department’s K-9 officer Axel died May 27 after a brief bout with health-related issues. The German Shepherd-Belgian Malinois mix — one of the first police dogs in the area — missed 10 years of service with the department by less than one week. He was 11 1/2 years old. Countless condolences from surrounding communities and across the county have been flooding the department and the cell phone of Axel’s handler, Officer Cridge, over the past few weeks. “Holy smokes,” said Officer Cridge, adding that initial response via phone call and text message had him charging his cell phone two or three times per day. “You really get to see how we interacted with people over the years,” he said. Besides sniffing for illegal drugs, assisting other officers and protecting his handler; a large part of Axel’s role in the township and beyond was tracking runaway juveniles, people with dementia, fleeing felons and “people that don’t want to be found,” Officer Cridge said. He worked regionally with other departments, made many visits to the West Allegheny School District and was often found at the 171st Air Refueling Wing, one of several sites in Allegheny, Beaver and Washington counties where departments train with their K-9 units. In recent years, Robinson added K-9 Officer Sarek to its force and North Fayette now has Nevo. The trio regularly trained together. “We do all this training. … No one ever told us about this day,” said Officer Cridge. “I see him even more than my own family,” he said, adding that his 6-year-old daughter also is dealing with the loss. While Axel’s death did not come in the line of duty, his loss is no less real to those who had day-to-day interaction with the personable canine. Officer Cridge willingly shares pictures of his longtime partner. Scrolling through both candid and work-related photos of Axel shows a dog with personality. In one picture the dog was caught preparing to slide down a playground sliding board; in another his snout is covered with snow after rooting around in a fresh snowfall. Additionally, Axel had a messy side. When drinking from a water bowl, “he made a very large mess,” said Officer Cridge. “So we trained him to use the fountain. It was always funny to watch people’s reactions,” sharing a video showing the dog nonchalantly swing by the water fountain for a few slurps before heading on his way. The municipality is planning to erect a memorial marker for Axel. Officials there held a moment of silence for the canine referred to as a “very devoted employee, co-worker and member of our team” by Janet L. Craig, supervisor chairwoman, on June 8. “Living with him and working with him you were pretty much there with him 24/7. They leave a hole in your heart when they go,” she said during the meeting. The township has not decided if a new dog will be brought onto the force. Ms. Craig said they will be “letting the wounds heal” before exploring options.
