In Loving
Memory of
K9 BART
November 25,
2008
Handler:
Officer John Hallquist
St. Louis County
Police
7900 Forsyth Boulevard
Clayton, MO 63105
General Information:
(314) 889-2341
K-9
dedicated life to law enforcement
Bart
dedicated life to law enforcement
He
retired in June after seven years on the street, but Bart never
got much of a chance to enjoy his free time. He helped
confiscate more than $6 million in cash and drugs and took
almost 700 crooks off the streets. Not bad for a 9-year-old. And
then he died in his partner's arms just two days before
Thanksgiving. K-9 Bart and his partner, St. Louis County Police
Officer John Hallquist, now assigned to the Wildwood precinct,
touched many lives throughout their time together.
Hallquist was formerly assigned to the Affton/Southwest precinct
before he and Bart became part of the Canine Unit. In 2006, Bart
won the drug detection category of German Shepherd Dog Club of
St. Louis' competition by conducting 300 searches for over 30
different agencies and departments. During those searches, he
was responsible for the seizure of more than $750,000 in drugs
and nearly $1 million in cash. In 2007, Bart again won the drug
detection category by conducting more than 160 searches for
federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and seven
school districts. And he was responsible for the seizure of
approximately $1 million worth of narcotics including marijuana,
cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and ecstasy.
Bart is credited with assisting in the seizure of nearly
$300,000 in drug money.
"We were watching TV and he was lying on the floor at my feet
and when he went to get up he fell back down," Hallquist said
when recounting Bart's death. "He had this look on his face, a
look of sheer panic, and knew something was wrong." Hallquist
rushed Bart to a near-by veterinarian. "We got there about 15
minutes later and he took his last breath and that was it,"
Hallquist said. The whole incident was so painful Hallquist
decided he did not want an autopsy performed.
"Thankfully, we were at home when he got sick and I got to hold
him as he took his last breaths," Hallquist said. "I shudder to
think what would have happened if I had been at work or gone
somewhere and came home and found him like that. "Bart didn't
get paid a dime. The only thing he got was food and a chance to
play with his Kong, a little black rubber ball," Hallquist said.
"That was his life, to make me happy and play with his Kong.
It's a pretty big void in the house without him there."
To make things worse, Hallquist and his wife, Ann, lost their
beloved Rainey the day after Thanksgiving. Rainey was a
17-year-old Schnauzer mix, so-named because Ann rescued her
during the floods of 1993. "Another great little dog," he said.
"I never in all the years heard her bark. Not once." A cop's
life on the street is full of danger, and the partners
experienced that first-hand several years ago. Hallquist and
Bart had stopped a drunk driving suspect on Tesson Ferry Road
one night and while Hallquist sat in his patrol car writing up
the incident, a second drunk driver slammed into the back of his
car.
The crash sheared off the back of the car and knocked Hallquist
out cold. When he awoke in the hospital Hallquist learned he
suffered eye and hearing damage. He was relieved to learn Bart
suffered no injuries. Hallquist estimated he and Bart met more
than 10,000 school students, parents and teachers over the eight
years they had together, and "all just loved Bart." When word
filtered out that Bart had died solace came in the form of
hand-written cards of condolence to from school children all
over the county.
St. Louis County Police spokeswoman Tracy Panus remembers Bart
from her days as a D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education)
Officer at Christ Prince of Peace School in West County. "Bart
was a sweet dog and was always a good dog in class," Panus said.
"He helped the children to learn the DARE lessons and gave them
a hands-on learning experience. He will be truly missed." One
student touched by Bart was 10 year-old Truman Elementary School
fourth-grader Sean Gordon, whose hand-made sympathy card
Hallquist said touched him like no other.
"I was about 6 or 7 when I met Bart," Sean said. "I met him
because my dad (Lindbergh School District Student Resource
Officer Paul Gordon) introduced him to me. I though he was
pretty cool dog. He was one of the blackest German Shepherds
I've ever seen." Sean said he made a pop-up sympathy card that
included a gold badge for Hallquist and sent it to him because
Bart "was pretty cool and a smart dog." Both Hallquist and Bart
left a lasting impression on Sean. "I think it would be fun to
be a canine officer," Sean said. "It has its advantages and
disadvantages but that's what my plan is." submitted by
Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA
In
Loving Memory of
K9 BENI
December 17, 2008
Handler: Officer
Kevin Easley
Abilene Police Department
450
Pecan Street
P.O. Box 174
Abilene, TX 79604-0174
Phone - 325-673-8331 Fax - 325-676-6606
WEBSITE -
http://www.abilenepolice.com/
Ailing retired police dog put to sleep
Abilene K-9 Officer Beni,
a Czech German shepherd who was put to sleep Wednesday after
becoming ill and paralyzed. Abilene police officer Kevin Easley was
the final handler for K-9 officer Beni, who was euthanized
Wednesday.A retired K-9 with the Abilene Police
Department, was put to sleep Wednesday after falling ill and
becoming paralyzed. Beni, a 13-year-old Czech German shepherd, had a
long and distinguished career with the Abilene Police Department,
winning five medals and two trophies in the 2000 Texas Police
Olympics, according to Sgt. Keith Shackleford, current spokesman for
the department and a former K-9 handler. Beni joined the department
around 1998 and retired in 2007. After his retirement, Beni lived with his final
handler, officer Kevin Easley. "He was a great partner, and we will
truly miss him," Shackleford said. Services for Beni are pending.
The Police Department formed its K-9 unit in January 1996 after
several public fundraising projects, according to the department's
Web site. Officers volunteer for the program and must go through a
selection process. Once selected, extensive training is done to
ensure a positive bond between the handler and the K-9. All K-9s are
cross-trained in handler protection, criminal apprehension,
tracking, article search and narcotics.
submitted by Jim
Cortina, Dir. CPWDA
In Loving
Memory of
K9 BUFFY
2008
Handler: Cpl. Chris
Stratton
Clermont County
Sheriff’s Department
4470
State Route 222
Batavia, Ohio 45103-9777
Tel - (513) 732-2231
Sheriff's K-9 was asset to force
For the last 10 years, she was a dedicated officer for the Clermont
County Sheriff’s Department. She went on more than 300 missions and was
injured during many. She’d been attacked by dogs, sprayed with Mace,
kicked, she’d broken toes and feet and once even became bloated and had
have her stomach stapled to her rib cage. Buffy had been decorated
yearly with awards, but she wasn’t doing it for the recognition. All she
wanted was a little praise, perhaps a treat for good work and a scratch
behind the ears.Clermont County’s bloodhound will be hard to replace.
Buffy was euthanized recently after a harsh, year-long battle with
cancer. She, and her handler, Cpl. Chris Stratton, had been a necessary
part of the police force. Over the last decade, she’d found suspects,
victims, and thousands of dollars of people’s property, Stratton said. A
bloodhound is so important to the department that they’ve begun
searching for a new one. “If people had seen Buffy in my back yard,
lying on the furniture, they would think she was a spoiled pet,”
Stratton said. “You would never picture her as a dog that put in the
miles and went through what she went through.”
An all-brown purebred with floppy ears and long pink tongue, Buffy was
purchased by Clermont County in April 1999 when she was 1. She was the
fourth bloodhound they’ve had and cost $1000, Stratton said. Buffy
crushed the stereotypical image of the lazy bloodhound, flopped out on
the floor, Stratton said. Her energy was unbridled from day one. “I lost
over 40 pounds the first year I had her from all the miles we ran
through the woods,” he said. A working bloodhound lives a different life
than other dogs, Stratton said. They go through intensive training their
whole life. And when they get hurt on the job, they need to keep going.
“Buffy would just run over things like barbed wire fences. Her tail had
been cut open so many different times, it calloused,” Stratton said. “We
got to a point where Neosporin and duct tape was her remedy to get back
working.” Buffy had searched for escaped inmates, fleeing criminals,
suicidal men and women and lost children. In order to track, bloodhounds
are given a person’s scent article. This could be a car seat, blood,
clothing, or a pillowcase for missing kids.
So did Buffy get her own ceremonies and medals for her hard work like
they do for police dogs in the movies? “Well no, that would be silly,”
said Clermont County Sheriff A. J. Rodenberg. “What’s she going to do?
Sit there and bark, ‘Thank you?’ ” Still, her work did not go unnoticed.
Stratton has a file full of plaques, certificates and letters of
commendation for him and his canine partner. Buffy’s incredible sprit
and work ethic are what made her illness so hard, Stratton said. After
she was diagnosed with cancer in September 2007, the department decided
it wasn’t going to put her through chemotherapy. “We decided we would
work until she couldn’t work any more,” Stratton said. That’s exactly
what she did, and was happy to do it. In June, when deputies were
chasing fugitive Chris Crosby through the woods, Buffy ran four miles
before Stratton had to stop her. By this point she had nearly doubled
her normal weight, going from about 40 to 80 pounds, and was going blind
from the cancer, but she wanted to hunt. “She wouldn’t quit for anything, but I wasn’t going to run her until she
died,” Stratton said. Cancerous masses had started to appear on her body
for the last year, but they weren’t causing her pain, Stratton said.
When they started to, though, he knew it was time to put her down. “That
day she couldn’t even get out of her dog house. But I got the leash and
she went running up to the patrol car,” he said. “She really liked
working.” Clermont County is searching for another bloodhound, as well
as a new officer to partner with it. Stratton doesn’t want to do it
anymore for personal and emotional reasons. Three officers have applied
for the position and the deadline is the end of the week. The department
also has contacted breeders around the country about finding a new dog,
Rodenberg said. “The new dog is going to have tough shoes to fill,
although Buffy didn’t wear any,” he said. “If we get a dog that’s
Buffy’s equal, we’ll be very fortunate.” There is no question that the
department needs a bloodhound, no matter how much energy and money the
dog takes. “Bloodhounds are costly for doing only one service. They
don’t do drug work, they don’t do cadaver searching, they don’t do bombs
or buildings. They’re not really obedient,” Stratton said, “but their
purpose is to find people, and they do that well.”
submitted by
Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA
In Loving Memory
of
MWD K9 BRITT
September 11,
2008
Handler: Sgt.
Megan Hobson
SERVICE - Fort Huachuca, Dec. 3 at the
Southern Arizona Army post.
**************
Britt, military working dog, earns last rites befitting hero
Britt the bomb-sniffing dog, who served
overseas in Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan, will get a
funeral befitting a hero at Fort Huachuca. The ashes of the Army
canine, recently put down due to neurological illness, will be
interred behind the kennels that served as his home base as a
military color guard looks on. The 11-year-old German shepherd
was euthanized on Sept. 11 and will be buried Dec. 3 at the
Southern Arizona Army post.
Following tradition, taps will be played and a
flag folded and presented to Sgt. Megan Hobson, Britt's last
handler. "We lost a fallen comrade," said Hobson, 24, a Utah
native serving with the fort's 18th Military Police Detachment.
"He may have been a piece of Army equipment, but I loved that
dog," said Hobson, who was with Britt when he died. The German
shepherd held the rank of staff sergeant — military dogs always
outrank their handlers by one stripe, to discourage ill
treatment of a superior.
He had several Army medals to his credit and
had worked as an explosives detector dog since 1999. Overseas,
he took part in numerous missions that likely saved lives,
officials said. On patrol in Iraq, he unearthed weapons caches
and makeshift bombs, and even collared an insurgent by chasing
him down. Hobson, Britt's handler for three months, arranged for
the canine to spend his final days in the Huachuca Mountains
doing his favorite things.
"They let me have a couple days with him where
he was just a dog, he didn't have to work," she recalled.
She bought him doggie delicacies — sirloin
steak with mashed potatoes from a Texas Roadhouse restaurant —
and they played fetch with his favorite squeaky toy. Britt had a
reputation for nipping people — "love bites" as the handlers
call them — but Hobson, a rarity as a female handler, said she
never saw that side of him. "I think he needed a woman in his
life," she said. Fort Huachuca spokeswoman Tanja Linton said the
fanfare at an Army dog's funeral is not quite the same as honors
rendered for a human. Still, she said in a statement, the
service aims to pay respects to "a different kind of soldier."
"Britt served his country with loyalty and distinction," she
said. submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA
In
Loving Memory of
K9
BIER
November 16, 2008
Handler: James Ljunggren
Auburn Police Department
416 Oxford St.
North Auburn, MA 01501
Ph: 508.832.777
Town police dog leaves his kennel and dies in hit-and-run on
interstate
Auburn Patrolman James Ljunggren and Bier, the dog that died in a
hit-and-run accident last weekend.
The Police
Department is moving to get another police dog after 6-1/2-year-old
Bier was found dead early Sunday morning near the intersection of
Interstates 290 and 395.
Police Chief Andrew J. Sluckis Jr. said the Belgian
Malinois got out of his kennel on the property of his handler,
Patrolman James Ljunggren, on Saturday night. Bier was hit by the
driver of a vehicle who did not stop, killing the highly regarded
tracking dog.
Bier was
frequently used in other communities to help apprehend criminals and
people who were lost. Chief Sluckis said police are continuing their
investigation into the accident.
Bier also
was one of the top finishers in a recent CIA tracking competition in
Virginia, according to information from Patrolman Ljunggren.
Chief Sluckis said Patrolman Ljunggren, an officer
who has worked with what police call canine units since he came to
the force from the Shrewsbury Police Department in 1993, has been
talking with his contacts in Belgium this week in an effort to find
another dog to use for police work.
Bier also
was one of the top finishers in a recent CIA tracking competition in
Virginia, according to information from Patrolman Ljunggren.
Chief
Sluckis said Patrolman Ljunggren, an officer who has worked with
what police call canine units since he came to the force from the
Shrewsbury Police Department in 1993, has been talking with his
contacts in Belgium this week in an effort to find another dog to
use for police work.
“We are in the process of looking for a replacement,”
Chief Sluckis said. “He spent a lot of time and effort with Bier,”
Chief Sluckis said, when asked how Patrolman Ljunggren was dealing
with the loss of a dog he has had since it was a puppy. “To lose a
dog under those circumstances is tragic.”
Since
Patrolman Ljunggren joined the force, he and the dogs he has worked
with have found five children who were missing in the woods, Chief
Sluckis said. And earlier this year, Bier tracked down the suspected
robber of a gas station near the Auburn Mall. Bier was also used in
what Chief Sluckis said were countless drug investigations.“We used
Bier on a daily basis,” he said. The use of the police dogs trained
and handled by Patrolman Ljunggren proved there was a need for one
in town, Chief Sluckis said.
The cost of a Belgian Malinois, bred primarily as a working dog for
protection, police work, detection and search and rescue, is about
$6,000, Chief Sluckis said.
After a dog is bought, he said, other than the cost of training, the
only yearly costs are for food and veterinary bills. Previous dogs
under Patrolman Ljunggren’s purview have been obtained through
donations, the chief said. At the age of 6-1/2, Bier was looking at
retirement from the force. Officers say police work can be stressful
for dogs, and as a result, the police dog’s life span can be shorter
than those of other dogs. Chief Sluckis said efforts had been made
to get a younger Belgian Malinois that would have worked with Bier
for one or two years. While state police and the Worcester County
Sheriff’s Department have dogs for use in their work, many towns in
Central Massachusetts do not, which is why Bier and Patrolman
Ljunggren’s other dogs have helped in other communities. Among
communities in Central Massachusetts that have police dogs are
Southbridge, Webster, Shrewsbury, Sutton, and Worcester.
submitted by
Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA
In
Loving Memory of
K9
BOSS
October
5, 2008
Handler: Officer
Rhonda Tuscher
Fairfax
Police Department
144
Bolinas Rd
Fairfax,
CA 94930
(415)
453-5330
Boss,
a Fairfax police dog, died Sunday.
Boss,
an 8-year-old police dog working in Fairfax, died in his sleep Sunday,
authorities said. One of two police dogs in Marin, the German shepherd
had undergone emergency surgery four months earlier after doctors discovered
a softball-sized tumor on his spleen. Boss was rushed to the emergency
clinic after his handler, Fairfax police Officer Rhonda Tuscher, noticed
his abdomen was distended during training exercises. "Boss was the best
partner I could have hoped for," Tuscher said. "We were together 24/7,
and I can't imagine not having him by my side." The dog was a member of
the Marin Humane Society's K9 Care program, which depends on private contributions
to cover the cost of routine and emergency medical care for Marin service
dogs. submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA
In
Loving Memory of
K9
BELLA
2008
 
Handler: Deputy
Lisa Reynolds
Morgan
County Deputy's Office
2380
Athens Hwy
Madison,
Georgia 30650
Admin:
(706)342-1507
Officers
mourn loss of beloved drug dog
Bella
was a black Lab approximately seven–years–old at the time of her death
caused by internal injuries, and she was brilliant at her job: searching
out and alerting her partner for narcotics in the area. She lived with
Morgan County Deputy Lisa Reynolds, who acted as a handler, trainer, partner,
and friend. Bella served the community for approximately a year and a half,
but in her time here she built an impressive resume. In her work with the
sheriff’s department, Bella alerted to heroine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine,
and marijuana.
Bella
and Reynolds were stationed at the high school and middle school.
Daily tasks included walking the halls of the schools, checking lockers,
classroom and vehicle searches, and demonstrations in classrooms. Bella
completed 97 school searches in Morgan County and also searched schools
in Social Circle, Putnam County and Newton County. Reynolds is not
the only one who misses her friend. “I think every student in the middle
school has sent me an ‘I’ll miss Bella’ letter,” said Reynolds.
“She
really loved all the kids.” Bella became a familiar fixture around the
schools, bringing smiles to the faces of everyone, students and administrators
alike. Many handlers of working dogs don’t let people pet their dogs, but
Reynolds never found a problem with that. Students loved spending time
with Bella, and she loved them back. Bella was also on call 24 hours a
day for Madison’s police department. Reynolds and Bella responded
to nearly 150 calls to search vehicles, homes, buildings, and even the
county’s detention center.
When
not on call or on duty at the school, Bella and Reynolds spent their time
training. According to Reynolds, who documented Bella’s efforts, she and
Bella trained a total of 277 days when they were not on the job. Although
Bella went through rigorous training before she came to Madison, Reynolds
had to work with her daily to ensure that her techniques remained in top
shape. Reynolds would constantly switch hiding places and types of drugs
during the training sessions to make sure Bella was ready for anything.
In
order to better emulate real life situations, she placed distractors around
the hidden narcotics. Krystal burgers and tennis balls, two of Bella’s
favorite things, were often put in her path. Bella, however, would not
be deterred. She knew that if she wanted these rewards, she would
first have to earn her keep. She was always able to keep her focus
perform to the best of her abilities, and always found the “hide.” According
to Reynolds, “it was all a game to her.” It was a game at which Bella
was very adept.
Bella
found trace amounts of narcotics in 25 vehicles, over a dozen cases of
prescription violations at schools, and even 10 rocks of cocaine during
an open air search in which the suspect fled the scene and dropped the
narcotics in the woods. Reynolds said one time during training, she led
Bella to a line of cars and Bella could immediately identify which ones
had the narcotics in them, without having to actually enter any of the
vehicles. Her first day on the job, Bella responded to a call to search
a vehicle and found seven or eight pieces of crack cocaine. “I was so proud
of her,” Reynolds gushed. Reynolds is not sure if she is prepared to take
on the responsibilities of finding and training a new narcotics dog. “There
is a lot of stuff that goes into it,” said Reynolds. “That’s your partner,
that’s your best friend.” submitted
by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA
In
Loving Memory of
K9
BOND
September
7, 2008
Handler: Officer
Dennis Garcia
Tucumcari
Police Department
215
E Center St
Tucumcari,
NM 88401
(575)
461-2160
Police
dog, Bond, dies
K-9
Bond with partner and handler Tucumcari Police Officer Dennis Garcia
The
Tucumcari Police Department’s police dog, Bond, died Sunday. “It’s sad
deal,” said Police Chief Roger Hatcher. “That dog was a very good asset.”
Bond became sick earlier in the week and appeared to be getting better,
but then relapsed, Hatcher said. The cause of death of the four-year-old
German Shepherd is not certain, Hatcher said. Kidney failure is suspected,
but the dog will undergo an autopsy to determine the cause of death, Hatcher
said. “After that we’ll know more,” Hatcher said. Bond’s handler, Officer
Dennis Garcia, who the dog lived with and worked with on a daily basis,
said he planned to take Bond’s remains today to Albuquerque to a special
diagnostic veterinarian clinic. Garcia said Bond had a good disposition.
“I’ve got two young kids and they got along good,” said Garcia, who had
served as Bond’s handler for a little more than a year. In May Bond assisted
police officers and the Quay County Sheriff's Office in seizing of $118,902
in cash and a handgun by alerting officers that either drugs or currency
was in a vehicle.
Garcia
said the dog was trained to sniff out drugs and currency. In addition to
assisting the Sheriff’s Office, Bond also worked on cases with the New
Mexico State Police and the New Mexico Department of Transportation, Garcia
said. “I’m going to start looking for another one,” Hatcher said. “They
are a great tool.” Depending on where a dog is trained and what it is trained
for a dog can cost between $3,000 to $8,000. Bond, who had only one name,
was purchased with the help of the local Crimestoppers which raised $6,000
to buy the German Shepherd and provide training for an officer handler
and the dog.
Bond’s
first handler was former TPD officer Darrick Shaw who began working with
the dog in April 2006. In five months Bond had assisted in the seizure
of $30,000. Bond was certified at that time to alert to the locations
of marijuana, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamines. In an alert, Bond scratched
furiously to indicate he had smelled drugs. A police dog is very labor
intensive for the handler and the handler should receive more money per
hour, Hatcher said. The officer has to work with the dog and train dog,
as well as taking care of the dog’s daily needs, Hatcher said. On Monday,
at Crimestoppers next meeting, Hatcher said he planned to talk to the group
about assisting the department to get another dog.
submitted
by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA
In
Loving Memory of
K9
BONO
July
23, 2008
Handler: Officer
Matthew Drew
Desert
Hot Springs Police Department
65-950
Pierson Blvd.
Desert
Hot Springs, CA 99240
(760)
329-6411
Retired
DHS police dog "Bono" dies
"Bono,"
a retired K-9 who worked for the Desert Hot Springs Police Department from
2003 to 2007, died Wednesday, according to his handler. Officer Matthew
Drew, who now works for the Indio Police Department, said the Czechoslovakian
shepherd was 8 years old. Bono retired from police work in August 2007
and has been living with Drew, his wife and children ever since."He was
a member of the family. ...He was a really good dog," Drew said.
Bono
was cross-trained in narcotics and apprehension, and found many criminals
during his career, including a murder suspect who was wanted by the Cathedral
City Police Department, according to Drew.
Officer
Drew and Bono found the murder suspect hiding in the front yard of a home
while conducting a yard-to-yard search. During Bono's career, he also was
involved in many public demonstrations, and children took pictures with
Officer Drew and Bono. "Bono was a great partner and a great friend and
always gave his all right up until his death," Drew wrote. Drew said he's
not sure why the dog was named "Bono." "He had it when I got him. I don't
know if he was named after Sonny Bono," Drew said. Bono will be cremated,
Drew said, and a plaque will be made in his honor. submitted
by Jim Cortina, CPWDA Dir.
In
Loving Memory of
K9
BOY
July
1, 2008
 
Handler: Don Carmack
Coleman Police
Department
P
O BOX 592
Coleman,
TX
Phone:
(915) 625-4114 - Fax: (915) 625-4524
Coleman
honors faithful servant, Boy the police dog
Coleman
Police Officer Don Carmack speaks of Boy, his police working dog and companion
for about nine years, during a memorial service for the dog Wednesday.
On the table are items that Boy garnered for his faithful service. He died
of natural causes.
Area
law enforcement officers gathered here Wednesday to remember a hard-working
police dog who was responsible for the capture of drugs, money and jail
escapees during his career. Boy, a 12-year-old police working dog who died
July 1 of natural causes, also helped find missing people. His last bite
out of crime came just four weeks before his death when he searched a residence
and found methamphetamine in two places.
His
memorial service at the Coleman police station was attended by about 25
representatives from area police departments, including from Brown, Young
and other counties. His handler, Don Carmack, who serves with the Coleman
Police Department, said Boy was a Belgian Malinois. The breed's high energy
is said to make them ideal for police work. Carmack and Boy teamed up in
1999. They first worked for the Brown County Sheriff's Department. The
pair trained for and completed a 40-hour course put
on each year by the USPCA for
top police K-9 units in Texas. They placed second in 2002-03. "Boy took
care of me many times and prevented me from getting hurt while on duty,"
Carmack said. Carmack, a former Bangs police chief, went to work for the
Coleman Police Department in February, and Boy continued working with him.
Officers who knew Boy said the dog never knew the word "quit" no matter
how much pain he suffered or how old he got. Carmack was presented a plaque
from area canine handlers in honor of Boy. The plaque denoted the years
of service Boy performed with the Brown County Sheriff's Department.
submitted
by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA
In
Loving Memory of
K9 BALOO
June
30, 2008
 
Handler: Ofc. John
Holdinsky
Tempe
Police Department
120
East 5th Street
Tempe,
AZ 85281
(480)
350-8306
A
Tempe K9 officer died on Monday night after being injured during a pursuit
inside a construction site.
Baloo,
a 5 year-old male German Shepherd, was assisting in the search for a pair
of alleged burglary suspects when he fell nearly 40 feet. He was transported
to a nearby animal hospital where veterinarians worked to save him but
his injuries were two severe. Officer Brandon Banks says witnesses reported
seeing two men inside the Farmer Street Lofts Project. It's believed
that the two were trying to steal copper from the construction site.
Banks
says Baloo's handler, Ofc. John Holdinsky, was a 22 year veteran of the
force and had worked with Baloo since 2004. Baloo was a patrol-trained
and narcotics-trained police dog.
No
public service or memorial has been planned yet.
**********
The
following is a press release from the Tempe Police Department:
Tempe
Police Dept.
Baloo
was searching a construction site for suspect when he fell 40 feet.
TEMPE
-- It is with heavy hearts that the Tempe Police Department announces the
loss of 'Baloo,' a 5 year-old male German Shepherd that passed away after
sustaining critical injuries while searching for burglary suspects. Around
6:40pm yesterday evening (Monday, June 30th) the Tempe Police Department
responded to a report of suspicious activity at the Farmer Street Lofts
Project at 450 S. Farmer. Information provided to police indicated that
2 males were seen running into the fenced construction site and may be
hiding inside the building. It was believed these subjects may have been
trying to steal copper.
Several
patrol officers along with Tempe Police Canine Handler Officer John Holdinsky
and his partner Baloo responded to the call and began searching the area
for these suspects. During the search of the construction project Canine
Baloo fell approximately 40 feet and was rushed to an emergency animal
hospital where he was treated for injuries sustained in the fall. Baloo
remained in critical condition while every effort was made to save his
life. His injuries, however, were so severe that veterinarians could not
save him.
Baloo's
dedication, drive, and his courage were of the highest caliber. He will
be missed tremendously and his contributions to the Tempe Police Department
and the citizens of Tempe will never be forgotten.
Officer
John Holdinsky has served with the Tempe Police Department for 22 1/2 years
and his partner Baloo had been part of our ranks since November of 2004.
Baloo was a patrol-trained and narcotics-trained police dog. Several photographs
of Officer John Holdinsky and Baloo are attached to this news release.
Information regarding any public services/memorial will be made available
at a later time. The suspects in this incident were not located. submitted
by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA
In
Loving Memory of
K9
BREK
June
23, 2008
 --
Handler: Chief
William Jones
Grandfield
Police Department
P.O.BOX
DRAWER L
Grandfield,
OK
Phone:
(580) 479-3133
The
Press Release came in from Sheriff Bobby Whittington of the Tillman County
Sheriff’s Department early Monday morning and then the calls began. “Brek”
the Grandfield K-9 officer drug canine had been shot and killed. Several
parents called because their children had heard about it and were distressed.
In the two years this month that “Officer Brek” had been on duty he had
been up close and personal with just about every school child in Grandfield,
from the Headstart youngsters to the high school students. Weekly visits
to classes made “Brek” a popular icon to the students and he was a big
attraction during the D.A.R.E. week activities and readily identifiable
during the “Meth Walk”. He was frisky, like any other pet, when it came
to catching a red ball from Chief “Chip” Jones, but his extensive training
of voice and silent commands came to the forefront and he was all business,
when it came to finding drugs, no matter how well they were hidden. Was
he a deterrent in the War on Drugs? Randy Clark, Grandfield City Manager,
said, “Yes, definitely”. Henry Koranda, D.A.R.E. Officer echoed with a
resounding, “Absolutely.” There will be other K-9 officers, I am sure,
but “Brek” was our first and our hearts go out to Chief “Chip”
in the loss
of a friend.
MORE:
Canine
officer's killer sought
The Tillman County
Sheriff's Department is investigating the fatal shooting of the Grandfield
Police Department's canine officer. Officials say Brek, a 2-year veteran of the
police department, was shot by an unknown person or persons between midnight and
7 a.m. Monday. Sheriff Bobby Whittington says the German shepherd wasn't on duty
at the time of the shooting. Brek's handler, Police Chief William Jones, says
Brek stayed at his house and rode with him whenever he went to work. Jones said
Brek was used extensively when search warrants were being executed, at traffic
stops and at Grandfield schools. Whittington says Brek was only 1 of 4 canine
units in the county. Anyone with information on the crime is being asked to call
the Tillma
n
County Sheriff's Department at (580) 335-3013.
Brek was submitted
by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA
MORE:
Lulu,
We
just came from heart wrenching memorial for Brek. For such a small community
it was wonderful to see the support for Chief Chip and for Brek. There
were almost 2 dozen law enforcement officers from Tillman county, including
the Sheriff and his family, reserve officers, a couple retired Oklahoma
Highway Patrol officers and EMT's. I noticed our Animal Control Officer
had her flag at half staff today. Our Methodist pastor, David Gardner
(who is also our mayor) did a most awesome memorial, thanking Brek for
his service to the community. Chief Chip Jones is so well loved in Grandfield
we wanted him to know how much he is supported. He had a lady from Wichita
Falls Texas who said for him to pick out a dog and she will pay for it.
One of our ranchers said he will have a contractor come in a build a new
kennel for a new dog. As I say almost every week in my newspaper column....."I
love living in the Big Pasture area....it just don't get any better than
this".
Louise,
you (and your hubby) are to be commended for all the wonderful work you
do and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Sincerely,
jb
Judie
Bright (580) 479-5757 bpnews@pldi.net
www.bigpasturenews.com
A
century ago...a century to grow
In
Loving Memory of
K9
BOOKER
January
16, 2008
Handler: Deputy
Chris Newton
Huntington
County Sheriff's Department
332
E. State St.
Huntington,
IN 46750
Non
Emergency (Dispatch) 219-356-8316
Huntington
Remembers K9 Officer
Wednesday
night, Huntington police officers and members of the community gathered
together to mourn the loss of one of their own. They met to honor the memory
of a partner, friend and six year veteran of the force: a police dog named
Booker. "He was a member of the department; he was a brother in brown.
He had the full rights and privileges of an officer and he was part of
our family," explains Deputy Ron Boxell with the Huntington County Sheriff's
Department.
Deputy
Chris Newton was Booker's partner. "When your and your dog are in the car
eight hours a day, you take that dog home with you, you're really together
24 hours a day, there's a huge bond there, a trust. That's something my
dog and I had is a trust," says Newton. Newton worked closely with Booker
closely from the very beginning of the K-9 program. As a big dog lover,
Newton pushed to bring a K-9 program to Huntington County several years
ago.
During
Booker's time on the force he helped find lost kids and criminal suspects.
He also helped make nearly 200 drug arrests, helping to keep thousands
of dollars of drugs off the street. "He was an excellent tracking dog.
He was an excellent drug dog and when he needed to turn up the heat and
the muscle of the department he was there," says Boxell. Deputy Newton
and his wife Jenny also got to see a softer side of Booker. He was a playful
companion to their two young daughters and a much loved family pet.
"When
he came home, he turned off the work dog attitude. When he came home, he
was a pet, he was just like any other dog," says wife Jenny Newton. But
in a lot of ways, Booker was not just another dog. For his family and fellow
officers, his loss is big one. "I couldn't ask for a better partner and
it would be real difficult for me to replace him with another dog right
now," says Newton.
"He's
going to be missed by everyone and I don't think Chris will ever have another
dog like him, I don't think you can have another dog like that," says Jenny.
Booker was 12 years old. He died of natural causes. Officer Newton says
there are no immediate to plans to replace him.
submitted by Jim
Cortina, Dir. CPWDA
In
Loving Memory of
K9
BLACKJACK #33
April
16, 2008
Handler: James
Zarzyczny #11
A/Commander
Gila
River Police Department
Field
Operations Patrol Division - K9 Unit
Gila
River Indian Community
525
W. Gu U Ki
Sacaton,
AZ 85247
E-mail:
gricinfo@gric.nsn.us
Telephone:
(520) 562-9500 - Fax: (520) 562-9849
I
have been a K9 handler for over 9 years and currently have 2 K9 partners.
My original partner is a 9 year old German Shepherd named Blackjack.
He is a dual purpose narcotics patrol K9 and has served with me for 7 years.
He was diagnosed with a degenerative spinal disease.
submitted
by: Tracy Klett
The
Gila River Indian Community is also increasing its industrial economic
base. The community has developed three industrial parks that are home
to a variety of light and heavy industries, and offering businesses with
easy access to the Phoenix metropolitan area. One of the Parks, Lone Butte
Industrial Corporation, is nationally acclaimed as one of the nation’s
most successful Native American industrial parks.
But
the community’s recent and most evident economic development is its three
casino properties, Wild Horse Pass, Lone Butte and Vee Quiva. Upon signing
a compact with the state of Arizona in 1993, the gaming facilities have
helped the tribe slowly gain economic strength, providing nearly 2,000
jobs, 60% of which are secured by community members.Even with such growth,
the community recognizes the value of partnerships as we continue to look
for innovative ways to diversify our economic development and community
activities. For example, managed by Troon Golf, the Whirlwind Golf Club
offers a distinct southwest golf experience. The overall design of the
championship golf courses, clubhouse, and teaching center illustrates the
rich cultural heritage of the Community and highlights the local landscape
that includes saguaros, palo verde, mesquite, and cottonwood trees.
Police
Department
Department
Description:
The
Gila River Indian Community Police Department provides Law Enforcement
services to the Community and it’s members in the areas of criminal investigations,
preventative patrol and directed patrol functions. It is committed
to the protection of personal property and preservation of life and the
overall improvement of the Community’s quality of life.
Contact
Information:
* Name: Commander Rey Nejo
* Phone Number: (520) 562-7123
* Address: P.O. Box 568
* Sacaton, AZ 85247
* Fax Number: (520) 562-7051
* E-Mail: reynolds.nejo@gric.nsn.us
In
Loving Memory of
K9
BUBBA
May
22, 2008
Handler: Lieutenant
Lyla Robbins
Fulton
Police Department
510
Market
Fulton,
MO
Phone:
(573) 592-3100 - Fax: (573) 592-3139
Fulton
Mourns Police Dog
The
police department gathered on Thursday to remember the life of canine officer
Bubba. The dog was an 18-year veteran of the Fulton Police Department.
"He was our drug dog number one, he found a lot of drugs through out his
career for not only our department, but for other deptartments throughout
mid-Missouri," explained Police Chief Steve Myers. Veterinarians put Bubba
to sleep last week because of painful arthritis and old age. While the
entire department is having a tough time with Bubba's loss, no one has
it worse than his handler.
"I
was with him 24 hours a day 7 days a week, and I didn't exactly follow
the rules. He stayed with me, indoors slept on the floor beside my bed.
From the time I had him he wasn't in a cage, he was right there with me,
and we were best friends," said Lieutenant Lyla Robbins. Bubba not only
had an impact on the police department but the entire Fulton community.
"We used him in the classroom. He's a friend to all the kids, literally.
There have been thousands, literally, that touched this dog and he touched
a lot of them," stated Deputy Police Chief Roger Rice.
While
Bubba was a friend to everyone in the classroom by day, when he got home
at night he was definitely a "momma's boy," said Robbins. Bubba will be
remembered for his work on the police force, but more significantly, his
service to the community. Fulton police say they are going to look for
another drug dog to replace Bubba.
submitted
by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA
In
Loving Memory of
K9
BIZ
aka;
Canine Officer Bismarck Von Charnock
May
5, 2008
 ----
Handler: Master
Patrol Officer Tom Osendorf
Monroe
Police Department
806
W Main St
Monroe,
WA 98272
(360)
794-6300
Monroe
police dog dies of meningitis
Monroe
police are remembering Biz, a German shepherd police dog who died of meningitis,
officials said. The dog was laid to rest Monday, Monroe police spokeswoman
Debbie Willis said. Canine Officer Bismarck Von Charnock – nicknamed "Biz"
– joined Monroe police in 1999 and worked for many years with courage,
confidence and stellar tracking abilities, Willis said. The dog was one
of four used by Monroe police.
Bismarck
is a purebred male German Shepherd dog from German lines. He enjoys catching
bad guys, finding evidence, and playing fetch. Bismarck competed
in the 2000 BCPCA Police Service dog trials earning a third place in Tracking.
He is Officer Osendorf's first canine and has proved to be a superb dog.
Officer Osendorf has been with the Monroe Police Department since 1994
and is a field training officer and EVOC instructor. He is also a
member of the Monroe Police Special Emergency Response Team and a forensic
artist.
submitted
by Jim Cortina, Dir. &
Ryan Irving
In
Loving Memory of
K9 BONZO
April
25, 2008
(Midwest
City police Cpl. Randy Neal demonstrates how Bonzo uses his sense of smell
to search a vehicle
in
this 2004 photo.)
Handlers:
Cpl. Randy Neal , Lacky Harkins, & Jake Doles
Midwest
City Police Department
100
N. Midwest Blvd - Ph?
Midwest
City, OK 73110
Midwest
City police lay canine officer to rest
DIED
- 4/25/08 ( HIP AND SPINAL PROBLEMS, EUTHANIZED )
Bonzo
died Friday. Bonzo, a Midwest City police dog, was known around
the squad room as "the old man” with a lot of heart for his job. Bonzo
was buried Monday afternoon in Precious Pets Cemetery in Spencer, alongside
several of his canine comrades in law enforcement. The funeral service
was well attended by Midwest City police members, along with canine officers
and their handlers from Guthrie, Del City, Ponca City and Logan and Oklahoma
counties. Bonzo died Friday surrounded by fellow officers, said Jerry Kennedy,
supervisor of the police department's K-9 unit.
The
12-year-old Belgium Malinois had hip and spinal problems, and at the advice
of a veterinarian, a decision was made to end his suffering, Kennedy said.
"He was a good officer, but he got where he couldn't work anymore,” Kennedy
said. "That for him was probably worse than the pain.” Bonzo was born and
trained in Holland and brought to the United States by a trainer in Muskogee,
Kennedy said. His expertise was drug detection, but he had extensive tracking
and patrol experience too, he said. Bonzo recently assisted Choctaw police
in tracking a home invasion suspect through a mobile home park. He helped
find the suspect in an abandoned car, Kennedy said. "He's helped us find
a lot of drugs through the years, but he was more than a tool for law enforcement,”
Kennedy said. "He was a partner to our officers.” In 1999, Midwest City
purchased Bonzo from the Muskogee trainer. Cpl. Randy Neal was his handler
for about eight years and Bonzo worked a short stint with officer Lacky
Harkins, Kennedy said. Six months before his death, Bonzo was partnered
with officer Jake Doles. "Everyone always knew when I was on the radio,
because they'd hear him barking in the background,” Dole said. "He was
an old man, but he loved the job.” The night before his death, Bonzo went
out on one last patrol with Doles. Bonzo was one of two police dogs with
the Midwest City Police Department. There are plans to recruit another
dog, Kennedy said. submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA
In
Loving Memory of
K9
BRUNO
June
20, 1999 - March 30, 2008
Handler: Sgt. Greg
Ernst
Savannah-Chatham
Metro Police Department
201
Habersham Street
Savannah,
GA 31412
Phone:
(912) 651-6675- Fax: (912) 651-6683
Savannah-Chatham
K-9 Bruno Laid to Rest
One
of Savannah-Chatham Metro Police Department's fleet-footed K-9 crime-fighters
was laid to rest Monday night. Bruno, the first of five Belgian Malinois
to start the department's K-9 Unit in 2001, was diagnosed with an untreatable
form of cancer in February. The diagnosis forced an early retirement for
the K-9, ending nearly seven years of loyal and dedicated service to the
agency and our community . With more than 265 arrests and assists, 78 evidence
searches, 96 tracking missions, 525 narcotic searches and 216 building
searches, Bruno retired as an honorary K-9 Sergeant on Feb. 27.
Bruno's
handler, Sgt. Greg Ernst, made a tough - but humane - decision to have
his partner and pet of more than seven years euthanized. He wanted to prevent
his partner from suffering. Ernst and the rest of the department's K-9
family assembled Monday for a private burial at the horse stables on Dean
Forest Road . Bruno was born on June 20, 1999 and received his certification
after graduating from Beck's Canine Training school in 2001. Since joining
the department , Bruno has served as a force multiplier in the department's
crime-fighting mission. Whether scaling six feet fences, wading through
marshes or hiding in attics, few criminals have managed to elude Bruno's
tenacious spirit and compelling bite.
During
his tenure, the local Humane Society heralded Bruno as "Top Dog" after
he managed to capture a suspect who tried to drown him in a Wilmington
Island waterway. The department also has recognized him for his tenacity,
discipline and textbook K-9 apprehension and life-saving skills. In 2006,
he was credited with saving the life of Ernst after an armed suspect tried
to shoot the officer at the corner of Atlantic and Gwinnett streets. In
2003, Bruno tracked and located a missing 5-year-old who was on the verge
of climbing into a refrigerator. A headstone befitting an outstanding K-9
crime fighter has been ordered for Bruno's grave site. It will be installed
at a date to be announced.
Submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA.
In
Loving Memory of
K9 BENY
February
7, 2008
Handler: Cpl. John
Surowiec
Lawrenceville
Police Department
PO
Box 2200 - 20 South Clayton Street
Lawrenceville,
Georgia 30045
Phone:
(770)339-2400 - Fax: (770)339-2415
Lawrenceville
police say goodbye to canine
Retired
German shepherd helped catch about 160 criminal suspects
Police
dogs always seem to fidget at funerals. Four pallbearers in crisp uniforms
carried the tiny flag-draped coffin of Beny, a retired dog from the Lawrenceville
Police Department, to a place of honor Thursday at Oak Rest Pet Gardens.
The coffin passed between a line of police dogs and their handlers. Some
of the German Shepherds looked up at the men standing beside them as Beny
passed by, apparently confused. A couple dogs whined a bit. One officer
started scrunching a furry ear to calm his dog. Another grabbed a snout.
Officer
Jimmy Inlow; Officer Steve Hall; Officer Doug Schad and Officer Shane Pierce
stand
over the small casket containing the remains of 'Beny.'
Seats
at the funeral were offered to those in attendance, twice. Silently, everyone
indicated their intent to stand through the service. Beny helped catch
about 160 criminal suspects, said Cpl. John Surowiec said through sniffles
to a small group of well-wishers. Surowiec told them how "Mr. B" had worked
for the police in Gwinnett County and the city of Lawrenceville for more
than five years, and was an ace tracker. He helped catch a gang member
wanted on murder charges by the FBI, said Officer Emory Griffith, Beny's
first trainer.
He
once chased a Tec-9 machine gun pistol -toting car-jacker into a tree,
then climbed the tree like a cat to bring him down, Griffith said. At about
65 pounds Beny was a bit undersized for a police dog, but he was tough,
Griffith said. An officer handed Surowiec's son Luke the tiny folded flag,
pressing it close to his heart before saluting. Just as the four pallbearers
lifted the coffin again to its grave, a police dog taken to a carrying
crate a football field away began barking. submitted
by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA
|
Memorials
to Fallen K-9s