 Memorials
to Fallen K-9s
2000-F
The
F.A.S.T. Co. donates sets of memorial cards to all partners
I
need your help to inform me of such
losses.
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Dept. addresses available for those who want to send
condolences to officers. See below
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In Loving Memory of
K-9 FALCO
February 18, 2000
Handler:
Deputy John Schoen
Hoyt Sheriff's Department
Kansas
A Belgium
Malinois K-9
Shot and killed in
the line of duty
Kansas News
The Topeka Capital-Journal
The shooter killed his
parents, shot the
deputy and K-9, set
his house on fire and died in the blaze.
The bark of police
dogs echoed through Holton Cemetery as law enforcement officers from
across the state paid their last respect to Falco, canine officer killed
during a standoff last week. Canine units, law enforcement teams
composed of an officer and a dog, traveled to Holton High School from as
far away as Garden City and Nebraska for a service in memory of Falco.
Officers dabbed their eyes as taps played during a flag folding ceremony
and the official retirement of a fallen canine officer's service number.
After the service, a procession of more than 30 squad cars and police
vehicles with lights flashing wound through the streets on their way to
bury Falco, 2 1/2 years old in Holton's pet cemetery. "It's like losing
a real officer," said Rob Dunham, a deputy who works with canine
officers for the Atchison Sheriff's Dept. "I've been to other funerals
for officers, and this was just as big as any of those."
"That's amazing to
know that this news reaches that far away. (referring to magazine from
the Netherlands)
I have a new
partner. His name is 'NEKO.'
He is a male
Belgium, 2 years old. We have just started his training. He will be a
duel purpose dog, (narcotic and apprehension). J.S."
Neko will not to
take the place of Falco,but fill the void in John & his family's hearts.
A special thank you
to Deputy John Schoen, Miranda,
Alexus and Skyler
for their heart filled note sent to us. |
In Loving
Memory of
K-9 FRED
Born: March 18, 1990
Died: May 27, 2000
Handler:
Sgt. Rusty Sullivan
Aurora Police Department
350 N. River St.
Aurora, IL 60506
AURORA
FORCE MOURNS POLICE DOG, GSD
FRED WAS AMONG 1ST
TO JOIN DEPARTMENT
By Hal Dardick
Special to the ChicagoTribune
May 31, 2000 In
the early 1990s, a 33-year-old burglar was facing armed police officers
after breaking into an Aurora building. Apparently not intimidated, he
refused to surrender. But when Sgt. Rusty Sullivan, then a patrol
officer, let loose his partner, a 110 pound German shepherd named Fred,
the crook immediately gave up. "He was crying like a baby, because he
didn't want to mess with Fred," Sullivan said. Sullivan on Tuesday
reminisced about Fred, one of the Aurora Police Department's first two
police dogs. Fred was put down Saturday, days after his quality of life
dramatically diminished because of an unusual skin cancer he was
diagnosed with nearly five years ago.
Fred was born March
18, 1990, in Czechoslovakia. He and Ajax, a retired police dog who lives
with Sgt. William Lomax, joined the Aurora force in March 1992. Both
dogs and their human partners graduated from the Illinois State Police
Academy canine division in June 1992. Fred was 5 years old when he
retired in September 1995, at the time Sullivan was promoted. He
continued to live with Sullivan, his wife, Mary, and their 10-year-old
son, Matthew. Because Matthew was just 6 months older than Fred, the two
"grew up together," and thus Fred displayed what Sullivan called a "Dr.
Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" personality. Kind and gentle with children, he was
fierce when commanded into action on the job. "When I needed him, he
knew it was time to get down to business," Sullivan said. There was the
time Sullivan and Fred were the first to arrive at a shooting scene and
entered a basement occupied by a throng of people in a known gang house.
"He and I were able to control 20-plus people until we were able to get
some assistance," Sullivan recalled. "He saved my butt. There was no
question about that." During his 3 years on the force, Fred made his
share of successful drug searches, helped on drug raids and even
participated in homicide investigations. He demonstrated his skills at
local schools. And Fred achieved some measure of immortality when he was
featured on a trading card. "He wasn't just a family pet, he was a
partner," Sullivan said. "He put his time in, like the rest of us, and
he did it well."
Notified by J.
Cortina, CPWDA Dir.
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