Handler – Officer Joseph H. Donovan
Beloved Melrose police K-9 dies suddenly
The Melrose Police Department is mourning the sudden death of police K-9 Jony over the holiday weekend. The 9-year-old German Shepard was born in Slovakia, but arrived in the U.S. when he was 10 months old. He worked with the Melrose Police Department as part of its first ever and only K-9 program. Members of the Melrose Police Department will wear black arm bands this week and the flag flying outside the station will remain at half-mast.Jony had been partnered with Officer Joseph H. Donovan, and together both successfully tracked suspects and searched for narcotics in Melrose, Malden, Stoneham, Reading, Chelsea, Wakefield, Saugus, Somerville and Tewksbury. Jony retired in 2015 after an eye infection developed into an inoperable detached retina and cataract in his right eye, threatening his vision and the eye itself. He remained with Donovan and his family after his retirement. “Jony was a beloved member of the Melrose Police Department and served us well over his eight years of dedicated service,” Chief Micheal Lyle said. “He retired after a stellar career and enjoyed his retirement with Officer Donovan. Jony will always be remembered and will certainly be missed throughout the police department and community.”