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Died – 6/27/16
Handler – Deputy Andrew Krout
Fountain County K9 officer dies after manhunt
The Fountain County Sheriff’s Department’s K9, Tyson, died Monday from injuries sustained in the line of duty. Over the weekend, Tyson was called out to assist multiple agencies in the search and eventual arrest of three males who robbed Walgreens at gun point in Danville, Illinois. Due to the high outside temperature and humidity, Tyson began experiencing minor heat exhaustion, which later became critical. The K9 was rushed via ambulance to a local veterinarian’s office to be monitored, but Tyson ended up dying from complications. The Fountain County Sheriff’s Department released the following statement on its Facebook page: “K9 Tyson served us as a department and you all in this and surrounding counties with pride, and we will forever be grateful for his service and ultimate sacrifice to protect his citizens of this great county.” Neither the Crawfordsville Police Department or the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office were asked to assist in the recent search. Crawfordsville Police Chief Mike Norman said his department will “without a doubt” assist Fountain County with K9 support if asked. “It’s just as tragic as losing a police officer,” Norman said. “Knowing our community and the support our K9 program has received and how useful it is, it’s going to be a huge loss to Fountain County.” “Police K9s are a part of our law enforcement family,” Montgomery County Sheriff Mark Casteel agreed, “and their loss can be devastating. FCSD is in our thoughts and prayers.” Tyson had been on the road with FCSD with his handler, Deputy Andrew Krout, for four years.Deputy Alden Hohenstein said Krout was hoping to get at least three more years on the road with Tyson before retiring the K9 and then spend maybe six more years with Tyson as a pet.Lt. Russ Keller is one of two K9 handlers for Crawfordsville and can only imagine what Tyson’s handler is going through right now. “It’d be devastating,” Keller said. “You’ve got that bond because most K9s are with us all the time. They’re part of our families. On behalf of myself and Officer Plant, the other K9 handler, we want to send out our thoughts and prayers to Tyson’s handler and his family and offer him whatever support he may need in this time.” Because Tyson was a police K9, he will receive a fallen officer’s funeralservices. Memorial service and funeral arrangements are still pending and will be shared with the public later this week. Donations are being accepted on behalf of K9 Tyson through the Fountain County Sheriff’s Department K9 fund.
