K9 Gideon – New Hope, Pennsylvania

Died 11/9/19
Handler – Officer Andy Lamers

Retired New Hope K-9 laid to rest after decade-long career

Dozens of law enforcement and EMS personnel gathered Saturday morning to say goodbye to a retired New Hope police K-9. Gideon, a 13-year-old German shepherd, was laid to rest after a decade-long career with the New Hope Police Department. Gideon’s handler, Andy Lamers, accompanied the K-9 to the New Hope Animal Hospital. The dog, who was retired in 2017, lived out its final years with Lamers and his family. “It’s a painful decision for the officer to have to make,” New Hope Police Chief Tim Fournier said. “These dogs go through a lot of training and a lot of rigorous training, and it does wear them out.” Fournier coordinated personnel from surrounding departments to greet the officer and K-9 at the hospital Saturday morning. “It was very heartwarming to see the turnout honestly,” he said. “I was moved to see the other agencies there.” Gideon and Lamers were highly decorated, according to Fournier. The duo won state competition during K-9 trials for search and seizure drills. Gideon was also a regular fixture at community events in New Hope. “He was one animal that I could have at any type of public venue and he would just wow the crowd with his ability,” Fournier said. “Kids loved him.” Two New Hope K-9 officers draped an American flag over Gideon as the crowd saluted. “My hats off to that canine family, because that’s a special bond,” Fournier said. “That’s a loyalty and brother and sisterhood that not a lot of officers get to experience.”

Tags

Submitted By Jim Cortina

James A. Cortina has been involved with police dogs since 1972 and currently on the Board of Directors for the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association Inc. Jim has been appointed as Treasurer since its inception in 1991. Jim is one of the charter members of the C.P.W.D.A. organization. Since 1975 he has been a certified professional dog trainer and received his Master Trainer Certification in 1985. During his career he has provided armed K-9 strike crowd control for security agencies in Connecticut and out of state security companies. In conjunction with other members of the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association Inc. Board of Directors, he helped to draft Connecticut Statute 53-247(e) "Intentional Injury or Killing of Police K-9" which was passed by the Senate in 1993 and also assisted in implementing the prestigious Daniel Wasson Memorial K-9 Award in 1992. In 1993 he helped coordinate the North American Police Work Dog Association Nationals in New London, Connecticut. He was appointed Training Director for the New London County Work Dog Association from 1985-1987. He performed decoy work for Connecticut Police Work Dog Association Inc. in police K-9 demonstrations, trained several local police department canines, and coordinated training workshops for out-of-state police departments. He participated in the United States Police K-9 Association Trials in Croton on Hudson, New York in 1985 as a decoy. He is an avid photographer and received photography awards in 1989, 1990, and 1991 and currently takes photographs for the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association Inc.
| Old Memorials | Site Map
Copyright © 1973 - 2024 Louise Krause Memorials to Fallen K-9's Hosted By PC-GEEK Site Maintained BY Jim Cortina