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Died 12/10/15
Handler – Officer Ben Hardgrove
Police officer loses his canine partner
Fond du Lac Police officer Ben Hardgrove said goodbye to his K-9 partner this week. They had been partners for seven years. The police dog, named Packo, was suffering from an illness and had to be put down. Through the years, the 9-year-old German shepherd made news for his efforts in fighting crime and serving the community. In July 2014, Packo aided the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office in capturing an intoxicated driver who led law enforcement on a three-mile chase. The man was later spotted running through a field. Packo ran after him and brought the man down when he resisted arrest. The man was charged with his sixth drunken driving offense, along with other charges. In January 2015, Packo and Hardgrove were called to help find a suspect who fled a hit-and-run crash in Green Lake County. Because the suspect had a history of being combative toward law enforcement, the Green Lake Sheriff’s Office asked for Packo’s help. The K-9 was able to track down the suspect hiding in a wooded area several miles from the crash site. Most recently, on July 5, the canine helped apprehend a 16-year-old Milwaukee boy fleeing on foot following a high-speed chase and collision on Johnson Street. The suspect attempted to run from police but he was caught by Packo. Packo’s duties included drug detection, tracking, handler protection, article searches, and building and area searches. “Packo doesn’t just track suspects. Sometimes it’s patients with dementia who have wandered away or lost children or adults,” Hardgrove told Action Reporter Media last summer. A strong-willed dog with a playful side, Packo has ability to switch in and out of work-mode. “Every dog has a different temperament,” Hardgrove said, “but Packo knows.” The Fond du Lac Police K-9 Unit was established in 1995. The dogs are responsible for the apprehension of criminals, sniffing out drugs, locating lost individuals and children, and helping bring about public safety. The unit currently has K-9 Rony, teamed with Officer Charles Beckford.
