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Died 4/9/16
Handler – Officer Doug Beckman
Police mourn the loss of beloved K-9
The UI Police Department is mourning the loss of a fellow officer and four-legged friend. K-9 Quinty died after being part of a huge drug bust in Urbana Friday night. Friday was his final call. He helped his handler, Officer Doug Beckman, find ecstasy in a car and in a suspect’s clothing. UI Police say Quinty gave the department his all, and that’s how they’ll always remember him. “Officer bBeckman..it was everything to be a K9 handler to him, the way they worked together was like nothing I’ve ever seen,” said Lt. Joseph McCullough. The pair linked up in eight years ago after the officer’s first K9 retired. Beckman is the first and only officer on their force to have a narcotics K9. It was a match made in heaven, and everyone at the department knows that. “Officer Beckman was picked, and I’ll be honest at the time i really wanted to do it, so I was disappointed, but as we find out in our life, with the benefit of hindsight, that was the best decision the department ever made,” said Deputy Chief Matt Myrick. Myrick was also in the running to have a K9 partner, but it went to Beckman. Beckman and Quity’s bond was deep and inseparable, even more than what meets the eye.”You can witness it and see it but if you’re not a part of it you cant fully understand it,” said Myrick. On Saturday, around 1:30 in the morning, he had to do one of the hardest things in his career thus far. After a huge drug bust Friday night, something was wrong with Quinty. He rushed him to the animal hospital where Quinty was pronounced dead. Officers rushed to that hospital early Saturday morning for Quinty’s final salute, it was the least they could do for their friend Quinty, who gave them so much. Quinty helped seize more than 1000 doses of Heroin and Ecstasy combined, along with countless other drugs. He also helped find close to $100,000 in criminal situations.
