In Loving
Memory of
K-9
NERO
March 14, 2006
Handler: Officer Jim
Bartley
Bellevue Police
Department
2207
Washington St.
Bellevue,
NE 68005 - 402 293.3100
Our
Department started its K-9 Unit in 1995 with a Dutch Shepard
(Holland Herder) named
Nero.
Nero was a dual purpose dog and was assigned to Officer Jim
Bartley. Nero was a fantastic dog and was a critical factor to the
success of our K-9 Unit to this day. Nero died in 2001. We did
have a service. Officer Bartley was then partnered with Blitz in
January of 2002. Blitz was also a dual purpose dog and was 4 years
old at the time of acquisition. Blitz was a Belgian Malinois and
came from Europe. Blitz was put to sleep in March 2006 because of
medical problems.I have attached a photo of Blitz and Officer
Bartley. If you need any more, please let me know. Thank you for
your efforts. submitted by Lt. Kurt M. Strachota - K-9 Unit
Commander - Bellevue Police Dept.
Bellevue
Police Dog Put Down 3/21/06 - NE The Bellevue Police Department
lost a valuable member of its police force last week. Blitz, a
member of the department's K-9 Unit since the late 1990s, was put to
sleep March 14 after becoming too hard to control. Blitz had
attacked his partner, officer Jim Bartley, Police Chief John Stacey
Jr. said. A neurological disorder common with the Belgian Shepherd
Malinois breed is possibly to blame for the attack. Blitz and
Bartley worked together on many assignments. In early November,
Blitz successfully took down a burglar who was uncooperative and
wielding a knife. The department is planning to retire another of
its aging dogs, Falco, within the next year and a half, Stacey
said. When that happens, Bellevue's canine contingent will be down
to two. Some business sponsors have stepped in, and the department
should be able to replace one of the two dogs in the near future,
Stacey said. But funding for a fourth dog still is uncertain, he
said. Bellevue has had a canine unit for at least 10 years, he
said. A dog is on duty at all times, he said. They are used
primarily for two things: helping to catch suspects and detecting
drugs. "It's almost a daily basis now that we require a canine in
some form," Stacey said. For example, he said, dogs were called
twice March 14 - once for a traffic stop and the second for a
burglary in progress. Dogs that are healthy and performing well
usually can serve the department for up to 10 years, Stacey said.
Getting a replacement dog can cost up to $10,000, including training
and equipment costs, he said. If funding is not found for a fourth
dog, Stacey said, the department will scale back its K-9 Unit. "We
can't support it on our own," he said.
submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA
In Loving Memory of
P.D. K-9 NITRO
January 23, 2006
Partner: Cst.
Howard Rutter
Vancouver Police Department
312 Main Street, Vancouver,
BC
Canada - V6A 2T2
headquarters: 2120 Cambie Street,
Vancouver, BC Canada ` V5Z 4N6 -
Breed: German Shepherd
-
Weight: 35 Kgs. -
Sex: Male
Colour: sable
-
Born: August 1997 -
K-9 Cerified: 99-06-09
VPD
loses a long time K9 in the line of duty
Vancouver Police are mourning the loss of one of their canine
members. The dog ‘Nitro’ was killed Monday night while trying to
catch a couple of car thieves. He caught up to the pair as
they jumped onto a freight train in New Westminster. Nitro
grabbed one of the men, but slipped and was run over by the
train. Constable Tim Fanning says the dog will be missed. “Very
sad, very sad, but he went out in a hail of glory,” Fanning
said. Nitro had been on the force for nine years and was due to
retire shortly and live with it's handler.
*************************
VANCOUVER - A second person has been charged in connection with
the foot chase which resulted in the death of Vancouver Police
dog ‘Nitro’. Nitro was killed last week after being
struck by a train while chasing two alleged car thieves. One of
the two suspects, 26 year old Greg Pete was arrested a short
time after the incident, but the second suspect got away.
However, last night police found and arrested Pete’s younger
brother, 24 year old Jeremy Pete. Vancouver Police allege Jeremy
Pete was the suspect who jumped onto a moving box car, causing
nitro to fall under the train to his death. Both men are facing
a variety of charges. A formal ceremony in honour of Nitro is
set for next week.
NITRO
Breed: German Shepherd
Weight: 35 Kgs.
Sex: Male
Colour: sable
Born: August 1997
K-9 Cerified: 99-06-09
Nitro is your friend and says: "No matter what a stranger tells you
NEVER get into a car with someone you don't know."Nitro is two years
old and has been recently certified as a police dog. He is looking
forward to a long career protecting you and capturing bad guys.
Nitro loves to play ball and spend time at home with his family.
Nitro's service:Barks, yips and howls punctuate police dog funeral
in Vancouver.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Hundreds of police officers stood at
attention as a funeral for one of their own was punctuated by howls
and yips. A cacophony of barking arose Monday as 92 police dog
teams paraded past a shrine and urn containing the cremains of
Nitro, a German shepherd that died in the line of duty two weeks
earlier. Nitro's handler, Constable Howard Rutter and his wife
Carolyn, son Matthew and daughter Megan sat in the front row in
Seaforth Armouries and fought back tears for much of the 70 minute
service, which included three eulogies and a multimedia production
on an overhead screen. "There were so many times that I would be
frustrated with Nitro and get mad at him, but all it took was him
coming over and licking my face and all would be well again," Rutter
wrote in a full-color printed tribute to police service dog No.
9755. The funeral was preceded by a motorcade of 60 police vehicles
with lights flashing. Many of the dog teams in attendance were from
police agencies in neighboring Washington state, including Seattle,
Everett, Yakima and Monroe, Nitro's birthplace. Nitro, 8 1/2, a
Vancouver police dog since 1999, died after lunging to grab a man
sought for investigation of automobile theft, losing his grip and
falling under the wheels of a train. By Sunday 185 messages of
condolences had been posted on a police Web page set up for the dog.
The man Nitro grabbed, Greg Daniel Pete, 26, was arrested and
charged with possession of stolen property over $5,000. In keeping
with Vancouver police tradition, Nitro's ashes will be spread on
each of the four corners of the city, so he can guard Vancouver even
in his afterlife. (submitted
by Annelabs@aol.com )
Car
thief handed 10 months in case that killed Nitro - Loss of dog not
part of sentence, judge says 6/23/06
VANCOUVER -- A petty criminal whose name is now known to just about
every police officer in the city was sentenced this week to one day
in jail, plus credit for time served, for stealing a Honda Civic
last January. Because the courts give double credit for time spent
in custody, in effect Gregg Daniel Pete, who was in jail for five
months before trial, got 10 months for stealing a car. In a
city where nightclub shootings, street-racing fatalities,
kidnappings and home invasions grab the headlines, Mr. Pete's crime
and punishment would have probably gone unnoticed -- except for the
fact that a beloved police dog died on the case. Vancouver
Police Department spokesman Constable Howard Chow declined to
comment on Mr. Pete's sentence yesterday, except to say that it
brought some closure to a file that upset a lot of police officers.
Nitro, a nine-year-old German shepherd who received his Vancouver
Police Department badge in 1999, was killed when he slipped from a
moving train as he pursued Mr. Pete and another man. Last Jan.
23, Mr. Pete, 26, was spotted in a Honda Civic that had been
reported stolen a few days earlier. While an unmarked car tracked
the vehicle, dog handler Constable Howard Rutter and his assistant,
Nitro, were called in for backup. Then the car thieves realized they
were being followed and sped off through the streets until their car
was trapped at a rail crossing in New Westminster. "When a
train blocked their escape route, they jumped out of the car and
ran. Police dog Nitro was released and began chasing one of the men,
who jumped up on the train. Nitro latched onto him, but the train
began moving and he lost his grip. He was sucked under the train and
died," a Vancouver Police account of the incident said. Mr. Pete was
arrested at the scene. For days after, the shock of Nitro's death
rippled through the police department. A ceremony to mark the dog's
death drew 700 mourners, with police, many of them dog handlers,
coming to Vancouver from across British Columbia, Washington State
and even Ontario. "We lost one of our own. He wasn't just a dog. He
was a loyal and dedicated member of the department and he had a
police identification number to prove it," Inspector Dean Robinson
said at the ceremony. "Some day we'll see him again, and I
promise on that day, we'll play ball," said an emotional Constable
Rutter. Constable Rutter has taken a position in
administration with the dog squad, where he is helping with
training. He hasn't been assigned a new dog. Peter Stabler,
the Crown counsel, said the judge did not hold the death of Nitro
against Mr. Pete when it came to sentencing. "The judge said that as
much as a concern [as] that was, he didn't take it into account on
sentencing because there was no intent, by whoever the dog chased,
to do anything to the dog. They were just running away . . . which
is I think correct," Mr. Stabler said. Although Nitro is dead,
and the last criminal he pursued has served his time, the dog may
have left a lasting legacy in the city. Shortly after his death,
Vancouver council approved a $1.65-million plan to build a
370-square-metre dog squad facility.
Vancouver police dog mourned - Jan. 25 2006
A Vancouver police dog was killed on Monday night while trying to
stop a suspect who had jumped onto a moving rail car. Nitro,
an eight-year-old German Shepherd, had been with the police
department since 1999, always with the same handler, Const. Howard
Rutter. On Monday evening, they began a pursuit of a
stolen car in East Vancouver – following the vehicle along Marine
Drive into New Westminster. They caught up with the
stolen car near a rail line, where traffic had stopped for a train.
The two suspects ended up fleeing on foot, with Rutter and Nitro
still in pursuit. One of the men saw the dog closing in on him and
jumped up onto the side of a stationery box car. The dog jumped up
after him and got a grip on the man's leg. The train then started to
move, and Nitro lost his grip and fell to his death under its wheels
. The two suspects managed to get away. But one man was taken
into custody a few hours later. Nitro and Const. Howard Rutter
take part in a training exercise.(Courtesy: Clay Stang/VPD) 26
year-old Gregg Daniel Pete of Vancouver has been charged with
possession of stolen property over $5,000. Police are
still looking for the second man. Nitro is featured in an ICBC
auto theft poster campaign, which begins next month. He was also the
first police dog named in the police department's "name the puppy"
contest. Police spokesperson Const. Howard Chow says the
department is planning a public memorial event at a local armoury
next month. The Vancouver Police Department has 16 dogs. Nitro
was the seventh to die in the line of duty since the gog squad was
formed in 1957.
Barks, yips and howls punctuate police dog funeral in Vancouver
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ` Tuesday, February 7, 2006
VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Hundreds of police officers stood at
attention as a funeral for one of their own was punctuated by howls
and yips. A cacophony of barking arose Monday as 92 police dog
teams they paraded past a shrine and urn containing the ashes of
Nitro, a German shepherd that died in the line of duty two weeks
earlier. Nitro's handler, Constable Howard Rutter and his wife
Carolyn, son Matthew and daughter Megan sat in the front row in
Seaforth Armouries and fought back tears for much of the 70-minute
service, which included three eulogies and a multimedia production
on an overhead screen. "There were so many times that I would be
frustrated with Nitro and get mad at him, but all it took was him
coming over and licking my face and all would be well again," Rutter
wrote in a full-color printed tribute to police service dog No.
9755.
The funeral was
preceded by a motorcade of 60 police vehicles with lights flashing.
Many of the dog teams in attendance were from police agencies in
neighboring Washington state, including Seattle, Everett, Yakima and
Monroe, Nitro's birthplace. Nitro, 8 1/2, a Vancouver police
dog since 1999, died after lunging to grab a man sought for
investigation of automobile theft, losing his grip and falling under
the wheels of a train. By Sunday 185 messages of condolences had
been posted on a police Web page set up for the dog. The man Nitro
grabbed, Greg Daniel Pete, 26, was arrested and charged with
possession of stolen property over $5,000. In keeping with
Vancouver Police tradition, Nitro's ashes will be spread on each of
the four corners of the city, so he can guard Vancouver even in his
afterlife.
Canine colleagues gather to honour Nitro's courage
PETTI FONG VANCOUVER --
It began with a lone howl.
Then down the line of cars, dogs leaned out the windows to listen
and the barking began. Canine units from the United States and
British Columbia proceeded through downtown Vancouver yesterday, as
dogs howled in the backseat on their way to the Seaforth Armoury, to
mourn the death of police dog Nitro. The police canine died in the
line of duty Jan. 23. Nitro was set to retire this spring after
developing arthritis in his elbows. But that didn't slow the German
shepherd down as he chased two accused car thieves who jumped on a
train in New Westminster. When the train began moving,
eight-year-old Nitro slipped under the wheels and was instantly
killed. Vancouver's police department hadn't expected Nitro's
death to hit the public so hard. Mourners from as far away as
Britain began sending hundreds of e-mails and sympathy cards to the
department. Nitro's death inspired some to write poetry and make
crafts, such as wooden urns for the dog's handler, Constable Howard
Rutter. Others remembered beloved pets, posting pictures of
their own dogs on the message board. It was all a bit too much for
one Vancouver newspaper columnist, who wrote that mourners were
descending into emotional quicksand when they began comparing Nitro
to a human being. In response, Sergeant Mark Tonner made what he
called a bold statement: that he is convinced all dogs go to heaven.
"Yes, I said it," Sgt. Tonner wrote. "Does that mean Nitro is
chasing bad guys through sunny meadows, young and arthritis-free?"
No, Sgt. Tonner reminded mourners, "there aren't supposed to be any
bad guys in Paradise." His voice cracking with emotion,
Vancouver Police Chief Jamie Graham said Nitro inspired a special
kind of grief. To those who say that Nitro's death was just that of
a dog, Chief Graham said that's like saying it's just a husband or
just a daughter. "The stages of grief we feel over the loss of
this great animal is not unlike the loss we would feel over the loss
of a human partner," he said, as mourners nodded and wiped away
tears. The ceremony included more than 70 dogs paying tribute
to Nitro, as their handlers led them to sit briefly in front of the
memorial where the canine's badge, collar and urn were on display.
The piper leading the procession was almost drowned out by the barks
and howls. Some of the mourners came during their lunch break
wearing business suits and work uniforms. One woman carried white
lilies with eight dog biscuits tied at the stem. More than 50 of the
mourners purchased a $20 DVD about Nitro's life, which included
images of his puppy days and a slow-motion montage of him running in
a field. Lorraine Mitchell, whose Rottweiler-shepherd mix,
Moose, died three years ago, had tears in her eyes as she watched
the procession pass on Burrard Street. "I know there are some
people who would think it is ridiculous to have this," she said.
"But it's sad and real to many people, and it's a good thing that we
can be so touched by a living being." Nitro is being mourned
not just as a pet, but as a police officer, said Stanley Coren, a
University of British Columbia psychology professor who has written
extensively about dogs. Prof. Coren believes that is because
Nitro represented more than an officer and a pet when he died in the
line of duty. "This is a dog whose name we happen to know
because he did something we all know our dogs would do for us,
protecting us for no other reason than because of their loyalty," he
said. "This dog suddenly became a dog to make us remember all other
dogs."
submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA & Cst. Steve Kaye
MORE
VANCOUVER - A second person has been
charged in connection with the foot
chase which resulted in the death of
Vancouver Police dog ‘Nitro’.
Nitro was killed last week after being
struck by a train while chasing two
alleged car thieves.
One of the two suspects, 26 year old
Greg Pete was arrested a short time
after the incident, but the second
suspect got away.However, last night
police found and arrested Pete’s younger
brother, 24 year old Jeremy
Pete.Vancouver Police allege Jeremy Pete
was the suspect who jumped onto a moving
box car, causing nitro to fall under the
train to his death. Both men are facing
a variety of charges. A formal ceremony
in honour of Nitro is set for next week.
Nitro is your friend and says: "No
matter what a stranger tells you NEVER
get into a car with someone you don't
know." Nitro is two years old and
has been recently certified as a police
dog. He is looking forward to a long
career protecting you and capturing bad
guys. Nitro loves to play ball and spend
time at home with his family.A
formal ceremony in honour of Nitro is
set for next week.
Vancouver police dog mourned
- Jan 25 2006
A Vancouver police dog was killed on
Monday night while trying to stop a
suspect who had jumped onto a moving
rail car. Nitro, an eight-year-old
German Shepherd, had been with the
police department since 1999, always
with the same handler, Const. Howard
Rutter. On Monday evening,
they began a pursuit of a stolen car in
East Vancouver – following the vehicle
along Marine Drive into New Westminster.
They caught up with the stolen car near
a rail line, where traffic had stopped
for a train. The two
suspects ended up fleeing on foot, with
Rutter and Nitro still in pursuit. One
of the men saw the dog closing in on him
and jumped up onto the side of a
stationery box car. The dog jumped up
after him and got a grip on the man's
leg. The train then started to move, and
Nitro lost his grip and fell to his
death under its wheels . The two
suspects managed to get away. But one
man was taken into custody a few hours
later. Nitro and Const. Howard
Rutter take part in a training
exercise.(Courtesy: Clay Stang/VPD)
26 year-old Gregg Daniel Pete of
Vancouver has been charged with
possession of stolen property over
$5,000. Police are still
looking for the second man. Nitro
is featured in an ICBC auto theft poster
campaign, which begins next month. He
was also the first police dog named in
the police department's "name the puppy"
contest. Police spokesperson
Const. Howard Chow says the department
is planning a public memorial event at a
local armoury next month. The
Vancouver Police Department has 16 dogs.
Nitro was the seventh to die in the line
of duty since the gog squad was formed
in 1957.
***************************
Barks, yips and howls punctuate police
dog funeral in Vancouver
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ` Tuesday, February
7, 2006
VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Hundreds
of police officers stood at attention as
a funeral for one of their own was
punctuated by howls and yips. A
cacophony of barking arose Monday as 92
police dog teams they paraded past a
shrine and urn containing the ashes of
Nitro, a German shepherd that died in
the line of duty two weeks earlier.
Nitro's handler, Constable Howard Rutter
and his wife Carolyn, son Matthew and
daughter Megan sat in the front row in
Seaforth Armouries and fought back tears
for much of the 70-minute service, which
included three eulogies and a multimedia
production on an overhead screen. "There
were so many times that I would be
frustrated with Nitro and get mad at
him, but all it took was him coming over
and licking my face and all would be
well again,"
Rutter wrote in a full-color printed
tribute to police service dog No. 9755.
The funeral was preceded by a motorcade
of 60 police vehicles with lights
flashing. Many of the dog teams in
attendance were from police agencies in
neighboring Washington state, including
Seattle, Everett, Yakima and Monroe,
Nitro's birthplace. Nitro, 8 1/2,
a Vancouver police dog since 1999, died
after lunging to grab a man sought for
investigation of automobile theft,
losing his grip and falling under the
wheels of a train. By Sunday 185
messages of condolences had been posted
on a police Web page set up for the dog.
The man Nitro grabbed, Greg Daniel Pete,
26, was arrested and charged with
possession of stolen property over
$5,000. In keeping with Vancouver
Police tradition, Nitro's ashes will be
spread on each of the four corners of
the city, so he can guard Vancouver even
in his afterlife.
****************
Canine colleagues gather to honour
Nitro's courage
PETTI FONG VANCOUVER -- It
began with a lone howl.
Then down the line of cars, dogs leaned
out the windows to listen and the
barking began. Canine units from the
United States and British Columbia
proceeded through downtown Vancouver
yesterday, as dogs howled in the
backseat on their way to the Seaforth
Armoury,
to mourn the death of police dog Nitro.
The police canine died in the line of
duty Jan. 23.
Nitro was set to retire this spring
after developing arthritis in his
elbows. But that didn't slow the German
shepherd down as he chased two accused
car thieves who jumped on a train in New
Westminster. When the train began
moving, eight-year-old Nitro slipped
under the wheels and was instantly
killed. Vancouver's police
department hadn't expected Nitro's death
to hit the public so hard.
Mourners from as far away as Britain
began sending hundreds of e-mails and
sympathy cards to the department.
Nitro's death inspired some to write
poetry and make crafts, such as wooden
urns for the dog's handler, Constable
Howard Rutter. Others remembered
beloved pets, posting pictures of their
own dogs on the message board. It was
all a bit too much for one Vancouver
newspaper columnist, who wrote that
mourners were descending into emotional
quicksand when they began comparing
Nitro to a human being.
In response, Sergeant Mark Tonner made
what he called a bold statement: that he
is convinced all dogs go to heaven.
"Yes, I said it," Sgt. Tonner wrote.
"Does that mean Nitro is chasing bad
guys through sunny meadows, young and
arthritis-free?" No, Sgt. Tonner
reminded mourners, "there aren't
supposed to be any bad guys in
Paradise." His voice cracking with
emotion, Vancouver Police Chief Jamie
Graham said Nitro inspired a special
kind of grief. To those who say that
Nitro's death was just that of a dog,
Chief Graham said that's like saying
it's just a husband or just a daughter.
"The stages of grief we feel over the
loss of this great animal is not unlike
the loss we would feel over the loss of
a human partner," he said, as mourners
nodded and wiped away tears. The
ceremony included more than 70 dogs
paying tribute to Nitro, as their
handlers led them to sit briefly in
front of the memorial where the canine's
badge, collar and urn were on display.
The piper leading the procession was
almost drowned out by the barks and
howls. Some of the mourners came during
their lunch break wearing business suits
and work uniforms. One woman carried
white lilies with eight dog biscuits
tied at the stem. More than 50 of the
mourners purchased a $20 DVD about
Nitro's life, which included images of
his puppy days and a slow-motion montage
of him running in a field.
Lorraine Mitchell, whose
Rottweiler-shepherd mix, Moose, died
three years ago, had tears in her eyes
as she watched the procession pass on
Burrard Street. "I know there are
some people who would think it is
ridiculous to have this," she said. "But
it's sad and real to many people, and
it's a good thing that we can be so
touched by a living being." Nitro
is being mourned not just as a pet, but
as a police officer, said Stanley Coren,
a University of British Columbia
psychology professor who has written
extensively about dogs. Prof.
Coren believes that is because Nitro
represented more than an officer and a
pet when he died in the line of duty.
"This is a dog whose name we happen to
know because he did something we all
know our dogs would do for us,
protecting us for no other reason than
because of their loyalty," he said.
"This dog suddenly became a dog to make
us remember all other dogs."
follow up submitted by
Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA
In Loving Memory of
K-9 NOAH
June 4, 2006
 
Handler: Officer Marijo Zawilla
SGT. THOMAS DAVIS
Niles Police Deartment, IL
7000 W. Touhy Avenue
Niles, Illinois 60714 - (847)588-6505
Niles' police dog, Noah, dies; served 10 years
Flags were at half-mast Monday as the Niles Police Department mourned the loss of K-9 officer Noah. Noah, a yellow Labrador retriever, began his career with the police department more than eight years ago, when he entered his K-9 training. Noah helped the department by locating narcotics and searching for missing persons. One of his favorite activities was visiting schools and teaching students how canines locate drugs. Noah, one of the department's two K-9 officers, had been recently diagnosed with cancer. He died June 4 while off duty with his handler, Officer Marijo Zawilla. He was 10 years old. "He will be missed by this department and the many people he touched over his short life," said a statement from the Niles Police Department. Niles officers will be wearing black mourning badges for 30 days, a customary tribute to a fallen fellow officer. Memorial services are being planned for Noah.
Police Remember A Friend
Noah wasn't just a canine unit to the Niles Police Dept. He was a fellow officer and a friend.The station's 10-year-old gold Labrador passed away last Sunday after suffering from a bleeding tumor. "Its almost like [he's] one of us," said Sgt. Thomas Davis, press information officer and sergeant of staff services. Noah spent most of his time as a sniffing dog, smelling out drugs in searches. "Noah has done many of those over the years," said Davis though he hasn't sniffed out any huge drug quantities. Noah was also trained in tracking lost subjects like burglars or missing children. Once Noah sniffed out a burglar hiding in the back room of a local business. Noah began with the police department eight years ago. He was assigned to Marijo Zawilla who was his handler and his roommate. He lived with her in her Elk Grove Village home. "She really loved the dog a lot," said Davis. "The dog lives with her day in and day out." To honor Noah, Niles officers will wear black mourning bands over their badges for 30 days - which is customary when a fellow officer is lost. The flags at the police station are also flying at half staff. Davis said the station hasn't yet thought about replacing Noah. He was one of two canines working for the Village of Niles and specialized in searches. "At this point, I don't think they want to talk about replacement right way," said Davis. At this point, Davis did not know when or where Noah's memorial service would be held. He did say a ceremony would be forthcoming.
**************
PRESS RELEASE- 05 June 2006
IT IS WITH DEEP REGRET THAT THE VILLAGE OF NILES POLICE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THE PASSING OF NOAH, ONE OF OUR TWO CANINES. NOAH PASSED AWAY SUNDAY JUNE 4TH WHILE OFF-DUTY AND WITH HIS HANDLER NILES OFFICER MARIJO ZAWILLA. NOAH WAS A 10 YEARS OLD YELLOW LABRADOR RETRIEVER AND HAD BEEN RECENTLY DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER BUT HAD CONTINUED TO WORK AND SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND POLICE DEPARTMENT OF NILES. NOAH’S CAREER BEGAN ABOUT 8 ½ YEARS AGO WHEN HE ENTERED K-9 TRAINING. HE WAS OBTAINED BY THE NILES POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ASSIGNED TO OFFICER ZAWILLA. OVER HIS CAREER NOAH ASSISTED IN APPREHENDING NUMEROUS CRIMINALS AS HE WAS TRAINED IN TRACKING AND NARCOTICS SEARCHES. NOAH ALSO WAS USED IN TRACKING LOST SUBJECTS AND PERFORMING ARTICLE SEARCHES. ONE OF NOAH’S FAVORITE DUTIES WAS TO HELP TO INFORM OUR YOUNG STUDENTS AT VARIOUS SCHOOLS IN THE AREA BY PERFORMING HIS TALENTS LISTED ABOVE. HE WILL BE MISSED BY THIS DEPARTMENT AND THE MANY PEOPLE HE TOUCHED OVER HIS SHORT LIFE. NILES OFFICERS ARE WEARING BLACK MOURNING BANDS OVER THEIR BADGES FOR 30 DAYS WHICH IS CUSTOMARY WHEN A FELLOW OFFICER IS LOST. A MEMORIAL CEREMONY WILL BE FORTHCOMING.
In Loving Memory of
K-9 NELO
November 29, 2006
Handler: K-9 Officer Denise Knoke
Brandywine Regional Police Department
1212 Horseshow Pike
Downington, PA 19335
610 269.4300 fax 610 873.4550
Police K-9 found dead 11/30/06 VIDEO - http://cbs3.com/video/?id=33380@kyw.dayport.com
The Brandywine Regional Police department's worst fears were confirmed on Wednesday, when the department's K-9, Nelo, was found dead in a wooded, swampy area in the township, three days after he was reported missing. "We are all very deeply saddened by the events which have transpired over the last three days," Brandywine Regional Police Chief Mark D. Kocsi said in a statement. "The support of the community and our many well-wishers is helping us deal with this tragedy. "K-9 dogs are considered police officers, so the death of any police officer, regardless of whether that officer is human or animal, tears at the heart of the bond we have for our fellow officers," Kocsi added in an e-mail on Wednesday evening. Nelo, a 16-month-old male German shepherd, had been living with his handler, K-9 Officer Denise Knoke, in West Caln. At about 10 p.m. on Sunday, Knoke took Nelo for a walk, according to Kocsi. Kocsi said one of Knoke's neighbors was having a party at the time, and fireworks were set off at the residence. The fireworks apparently sent Nelo running. Kocsi said Knoke chased Nelo before losing the dog in the darkness and a heavily wooded area. Nelo was last seen in the 900 block of Telegraph Road, in West Caln. Brandywine Regional Police, with assistance from other county agencies and organizations, searched Monday and Tuesday for Nelo. The dog was found dead by hunters in a densely wooded, swampy area on Wednesday about a mile from where he was reported missing. Kocsi said police, with assistance from the Chester County District Attorney's Office, will conduct an investigation to determine the cause of death. When the dog was first reported missing, police feared that he might be shot by a hunter, because Monday was the first day of hunting season. "Officer Knoke is extremely distressed at this time," Kocsi said. "Nelo was her partner, so we are following the same protocols as we would in any officer death situation." Nelo had only been working with Brandywine Regional Police for three weeks before he was reported missing. The dog had recently completed about three months of training on narcotics. Kocsi said Nelo began working with the department on Nov. 6, and he was sworn in as a member of the department on Nov. 15. The chief added that the District Attorney's office approved an $8,000 grant for Brandywine Regional Police to have a K-9 trained. Kocsi said any decisions about the department getting a new dog will be made at a later date. Before Nelo was located on Wednesday, Kocsi described the dog as very friendly and approachable. "The Brandywine Regional Police want to thank the many people and organizations that helped and offered help in their search for Nelo," Kocsi said. "Arrangements will be made for Nelo during the next couple of days, and we will pass on any information that develops."
Police dog gets fitting, rare tribute Nelo, a Chesco
K-9 killed by a hunter last month, was memorialized by 15 canines and coworkers yesterday.
By Kathleen Brady Shea Inquirer Staff Writer
The peak Kleenex moment occurred yesterday as a bagpiper played "Amazing Grace" and a police officer accepted the ashes of her slain K-9 partner. The memorial service for Nelo, the drug-sniffing German shepherd mistakenly shot by a hunter last month, included familiar elements: A photo display in the vestibule of the East Brandywine Baptist Church. Remembrance cards. Ardent eulogies. But the half-hour proceeding also featured an uncommon tribute: a procession of 15 K-9 officers that periodically erupted into a chorus of barking. Among the speakers was Brandywine Regional Police Chief Mark D. Kocsi, who remembered the 16-month-old Nelo as "full of life, full of energy, and very eager to please." Kocsi, who said his childhood included an occasional goldfish, told a crowd of about 100 that he did not understand the bond many people feel with animals, until after Nelo's body was found on Nov. 29. Although other officers, notably Denise Knoke, Nelo's handler, were visibly distraught, Kocsi said he did not immediately share the depth of their pain. When he got home, Kocsi said a rambunctious puppy his family had recently acquired followed him around, eventually jumping into the chief's lap. "It suddenly hit me that Buddy was smelling Nelo," Kocsi said, adding that he felt "a quiet comfort" that shed light on a relationship he had missed for most of his life. The fact that Nelo was sworn in as a police officer compounded the tragedy of his loss, Kocsi said after the service. Knoke, who was walking Nelo near her home on Nov. 26 when a firecracker startled him and he broke free of his leash, said she was grateful for the outpouring of support. District Attorney Joseph W. Carroll said the investigation into Nelo's death has not been completed. However, Carroll said a hunter, whose name http://cbs3.com/video/?id=33380@kyw.dayport.comwas not released, mistook Nelo for a coyote and shot him in a wooded area of West Caln Township. Knoke said initially she could not imagine getting another K-9 partner; however, as she grappled with Nelo's loss, she said she hoped the police commission would give her another chance. "I was really looking forward to taking Nelo into the schools," she said. "His friendly disposition would have been great for the community." Among those who attended the service was Atlantic City Police Department K-9 Officer Garry Stowe, who described the memorial service as "very powerful." Stowe and fellow K-9 colleague William F. Logan Jr. said it was important to make the trip, even though they had to sandwich it between back-to-back midnight to 8 a.m. shifts. Their K-9 partners, Nitro and Deuce, did not share their handlers' sleep deprivation since they got to snooze in the car. "If we could only teach them to drive and answer the radio, we'd be all set," Logan joked.
P.S. Bob & I attended this memorial service and I donated 200 photo memorial cards to handler.DeniseShe was still in shock... didn't respond to anyone at the service.
We attended refreshment together with other mourner after service, a SAD day.
suggestions@brandywineregional.org
In Loving Memory of
K-9 NOAH
June 4, 2006
Handler: Officer
Marijo Zawilla
Niles Police
Deartment,
Illinoisemail
7000 W Touhy Avenue
Niles, Illinois
60714
(847)588-6500
Niles' police dog,
Noah, dies; served
10 years
Flags were at
half-mast Monday as
the Niles Police
Department mourned
the loss of K-9
officer Noah. Noah,
a yellow Labrador
retriever, began his
career with the
police department
more than eight
years ago, when he
entered his K-9
training. Noah
helped the
department by
locating narcotics
and searching for
missing persons. One
of his favorite
activities was
visiting schools and
teaching students
how canines locate
drugs. Noah, one of
the department's two
K-9 officers, had
been recently
diagnosed with
cancer. He died June
4 while off duty
with his handler,
Officer Marijo
Zawilla. He was 10
years old.
"He will be missed
by this department
and the many people
he touched over his
short life," said a
statement from the
Niles Police
Department.
Niles officers will
be wearing black
mourning badges for
30 days, a customary
tribute to a fallen
fellow officer.
Memorial services
are being planned
for Noah.
Nitro's service:Barks,
yips and howls punctuate police dog
funeral in Vancouver
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Hundreds
of police officers stood at attention as
a funeral for one of their own was
punctuated by howls and yips. A
cacophony of barking arose Monday as 92
police dog teams paraded past a shrine
and urn containing the ashes of Nitro, a
German shepherd that died in the line of
duty two weeks earlier. Nitro's handler,
Constable Howard Rutter and his wife
Carolyn, son Matthew and daughter Megan
sat in the front row in Seaforth
Armouries and fought back tears for much
of the 70 minute service, which included
three eulogies and a multimedia
production on an overhead screen. "There
were so many times that I would be
frustrated with Nitro and get mad at
him, but all it took was him coming over
and licking my face and all would be
well again,"
Rutter wrote in a full-color printed
tribute to police service dog No. 9755.
The funeral was preceded by a motorcade
of 60 police vehicles with lights flashing.
Many of the dog teams in attendance were
from police agencies in neighboring
Washington state, including Seattle,
Everett, Yakima and Monroe, Nitro's
birthplace. Nitro, 8 1/2, a Vancouver police
dog since 1999, died after lunging to grab a
man sought for investigation of automobile
theft, losing his grip and falling under the
wheels of a train. By Sunday 185 messages of
condolences had been posted on a police Web
page set up for the dog.
The man Nitro grabbed, Greg Daniel Pete, 26,
was arrested and charged with possession of
stolen property over $5,000. In keeping with
Vancouver police tradition, Nitro's ashes
will be spread on each of the four corners
of the city, so he can guard Vancouver even
in his afterlife. (submitted
by Annelabs@aol.com
)
Car thief handed 10 months in case that killed
Nitro
-
Loss of dog not part of sentence, judge says
6/23/06
VANCOUVER -- A petty criminal whose name is now
known to just about every police officer in the
city was sentenced this week to one day in jail,
plus credit for time served, for stealing a
Honda Civic last January.
Because the courts give double credit for time
spent in custody, in effect Gregg Daniel Pete,
who was in jail for five months before trial,
got 10 months for stealing a car.
In a city where nightclub shootings,
street-racing fatalities, kidnappings and home
invasions grab the headlines, Mr. Pete's crime
and punishment would have probably gone
unnoticed -- except for the fact that a beloved
police dog died on the case.
Vancouver Police Department spokesman Constable
Howard Chow declined to comment on Mr. Pete's
sentence yesterday, except to say that it
brought some closure to a file that upset a lot
of police officers. Nitro, a nine-year-old
German shepherd who received his Vancouver
Police Department badge in 1999, was killed when
he slipped from a moving train as he pursued Mr.
Pete and another man. Last Jan. 23, Mr.
Pete, 26, was spotted in a Honda Civic that had
been reported stolen a few days earlier. While
an unmarked car tracked the vehicle, dog handler
Constable Howard Rutter and his assistant,
Nitro, were called in for backup. Then the car
thieves realized they were being followed and
sped off through the streets until their car was
trapped at a rail crossing in New Westminster.
"When a train blocked their escape route, they
jumped out of the car and ran. Police dog Nitro
was released and began chasing one of the men,
who jumped up on the train. Nitro latched onto
him, but the train began moving and he lost his
grip. He was sucked under the train and died," a
Vancouver Police account of the incident said.
Mr. Pete was arrested at the scene. For days
after, the shock of Nitro's death rippled
through the police department. A ceremony
to mark the dog's death drew 700 mourners, with
police, many of them dog handlers, coming to
Vancouver from across British Columbia,
Washington State and even Ontario. "We
lost one of our own. He wasn't just a dog. He
was a loyal and dedicated member of the
department and he had a police identification
number to prove it," Inspector Dean Robinson
said at the ceremony. "Some day we'll see
him again, and I promise on that day, we'll play
ball," said an emotional Constable Rutter.
Constable Rutter has taken a position in
administration with the dog squad, where he is
helping with training. He hasn't been assigned a
new dog. Peter Stabler, the Crown counsel,
said the judge did not hold the death of Nitro
against Mr. Pete when it came to sentencing.
"The judge said that as much as a concern [as]
that was, he didn't take it into account on
sentencing because there was no intent, by
whoever the dog chased, to do anything to the
dog. They were just running away . . . which is
I think correct," Mr. Stabler said.
Although Nitro is dead, and the last criminal he
pursued has served his time, the dog may have
left a lasting legacy in the city. Shortly after
his death, Vancouver council approved a
$1.65-million plan to build a 370-square-metre
dog squad facility.
|
Memorials
to Fallen K-9s