In Loving Memory of
K9 ENZO
November 27, 2010
Handler: Officer Jason Dubernas
Old Forge Police Department
314 South Main Street
Old Forge, PA 18518-1695
(570) 457-7441
Old Forge
police dog dies
For almost eight years, the
purebred German shepherd was
"part of the team" in Old Forge,
using what a former mayor
described as a "great nose" to
add another element to the
police force. Enzo, the
department's 8-year-old
narcotics and patrol dog, died
Saturday. "He was part of that
unit," former mayor Tony
Torquato said Sunday. "He'll be
sorely missed." The department
added Enzo to its ranks in early
2003, using him for patrols and
to sniff out narcotics. Enzo
helped not only Old Forge police
but also other area departments
and state police.
"He was well
recognized by the state police
(and) other departments
throughout Lackawanna and
Luzerne counties," said Officer
Jason Dubernas, Enzo's
caregiver. Enzo had suffered a
seizure a few months ago and
worked on a limited basis since
then. Officer Dubernas, who
cared for Enzo for nearly eight
years, said he thinks Enzo might
have had another seizure
Saturday. Mr. Torquato, who
served as mayor when the borough
added Enzo to the police force,
described him as a "wonderful
animal" who "had a great
personality for the job."
"You could sit there and pet
him," he said. "He was docile,
but when he got the command or
he was ruffled, he turned into
the kind of police dog you would
think he would be." Enzo learned
his skills for the field under
trainer Alan Finn in real-world
locales, like stores and parking
lots. He received training in
types of drug searches that
included airborne, hidden and
widespread. "He was a phenomenal
drug dog," Mr. Torquato said.
Officer Dubernas said he could
always
trust Enzo.
"He was always going to be
there for me," he said. Enzo and
Officer Dubernas bonded
immediately, Mr. Torquato said.
"Day and night, they were
together," he said. "They were
an inseparable unit. It was a
great combination. They worked
well together." And he pointed
out the borough saw a lot of
benefits from having Enzo. "It
gave us another dimension," Mr.
Torquato said. "It gave us the
ability to work especially with
drug-related cases, and that's
where Enzo was highly
efficient."
For almost eight years, the purebred
German shepherd was "part of the
team" in Old Forge, using what a
former mayor described as a "great
nose" to add another element to the
police force.
submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA
In
Loving Memory of
K9 ELVIS
May, 2010
Handler: Brandon Parker
Kirkland Police Department
123 Fifth Avenue
Kirkland, Washington 98033
425-587-3000
The
K-9 Unit is a fulltime unit that is specifically suited to
respond to alarms, prowler calls, robberies, and other events
where a suspect is present and/or has just fled. The K-9 Unit
utilizes a specially trained German Shepherd, named Max, and
provides services not only to the City of Kirkland, but to
surround cities by agreement.
In
Loving Memory of
K9 ENZO
January, 2010
Handler:
Darren Persha
Tinley Park Police Department
7850
W. 183rd street
Tinley Park, Il. 60477
PH: 708-444-5300
In
Loving Memory of
K9 ELVIS
June 10, 2010
Handler: Sgt.
Jeff Janciga
Johnstown Police Department
401
Washington Street
Johnstown, PA 15901-1892
(814) 533-2074
Officer mourns loss of K-9 pal
Dog with a nose for drugs served city 8 years
Patrick Buchnowski
pbuchnowski@tribdem.com
JOHNSTOWN — Jeff Janciga and Elvis were more
than co-workers. For nearly 10 years, the
Johnstown police sergeant and the Belgian
Malinois were partners and friends who teamed to
fight the local drug trade.
But for Elvis and his handler, the world crashed
June 10 during a veterinarian visit that
revealed the faithful canine was dying from a
mass of tumors." I wasn’t going to let him
suffer,” Janciga said. “I made the decision
right then to have him put down." Trained to
sniff out narcotics, Elvis was tasked with
finding drugs in vehicles, schools, prisons and
post offices. “You name it, we were there,”
Janciga said.
Elvis was 18 months old when he arrived in April
2002 from a kennel in Virginia. He was the
department’s fifth canine, bought for about
$5,000 with donations from local businesses and
individuals. The dog became a warm friend to the
schoolchildren, Scouts, nursing home residents
and many others he visited. The pair was
together at work and at home. Janciga said his
girlfriend, Christy Allison, also grew fond of
Elvis, who would often cuddle by her.
Janciga would fondly say, “Elvis is in the
house.” But age and the years of hard work began
to take their toll on the canine. “He was not
himself for about a month,” Janciga said. “He
wasn’t eating right and was losing weight.”
One day the dog stood up and then fell over. “I
took him immediately to the veterinarian
hospital in Richland,” Janciga said. A blood
test identified a problem with the dog’s
thyroid. In early May the dog starting vomiting
and losing weight, Janciga said. Elvis was given
medication and a change in dog food, but weeks
later he wasn’t better. The vet took a series of
X-rays. Janciga was stunned by what he saw. “His
lungs were full of tumors,” he said. “I knew
what it was when I saw it on the screen.” During
those weeks the dog had dropped from 84 pounds
to 70 pounds. Janciga said he knew what he had
to do. “Elvis had that look in his eyes,” he
said. “I couldn’t let him suffer.”
Elvis was given a sedative and 10 minutes later
he fell asleep. He died after a second
injection.
With the help of other police canine handlers
from around the area, Elvis was buried in an
undisclosed location.
Janciga said he is grateful for the support of
friends and colleagues. But the future for
Janciga is unclear.
“Now I’m looking at the prospect of starting
over,” he said. “I have to. I have to.”
Elvis was a top-performing police dog, city
Detective Thomas Owens said. “He was one of the
best out there,” he said. “Jeff spent a lot of
time with the dog. People don’t understand the
amount of time involved in training it and
building a bond. That’s what Jeff did. “It’s
been tough on Jeff when Elvis got sick and had
to be put down,” Owens said. “It’s like losing
one of your kids.” Janciga is moving on without
his friend and companion. But the void Elvis
left is apparent.
“I came to work with my dog for eight years,” he
said. “When I come to work now I’m alone.”
Janciga said he hopes to continue as a canine
handler and is looking for another dog. “It
would be a disservice to the memory of Elvis not
to continue,” he said. That will mean finding
another dog and starting over. Janciga said that
in time he will make the transition. But for
now, the memory of Elvis is one he will cherish.
“My dog lived proud and strong and died proud
and strong,” he said.
submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA Dir.
In
Loving Memory of
K9 ERIN
May 19, 2010
Handler: Agent Jerry Means
Colorado Bureau of Investigation
690
Kilpling St. #3000
Denver, CO 80215 USA
ph: 303.863-1733 or 800.886-1733
Erin, CBI
agent, dies; 1st accelerant-sniffing K9
Was
the model for National Fire Dog Monument
DENVER --
Not all dog stories are happy ones.
Wednesday night the Colorado
Bureau of Investigation's (CBI)
first accelerant-sniffing canine, Erin, lost her battle with
cancer. Erin
came to CBI in 2000 and retired in May of 2007. Erin and CBI
Agent Jerry Means responded to more than 800 calls that resulted
in at least 150 arson arrests. Together Erin and Means logged
270,000 miles responding to requests for fire investigation help
from local agencies.
Erin,
a smart black Labrador Retriever, was the center of attention in
more than 500 demonstrations at schools, seminars, colleges,
civic groups, scout troops and other events throughout
Colorado. Means fed Erin cheeseburgers and watched her quietly
pass away on a lawn Wednesday night. Erin was designated
as a national poster dog for arson prevention and is one of
three, with her picture included in the nation campaign against
arson.
The
National Fire Dog Monument in Washington D.C. is modeled after
Erin and will serve as a living memory to Erin. As in any typical
family, the death of a beloved dog has left CBI members with
great sadness.
Information provided by Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
submitted by
Barbara Snow & Jim Cortina,
Dir. CPWDA
In
Loving Memory of
K9 EURO
Handler:
Officer Adam Miller
Salem Police
Department
555
Liberty Street Southeast
Salem, OR 97301
(503) 588-6123
Salem police mourn
loss of K-9 officer, 'Euro'
SALEM, Ore. - The Salem Police Department is
mourning the loss of their narcotics dog,
"Euro." The 9-year old Belgian Malinois
began his career with the Salem Police
Department in February of 2004 when he was
obtained from a kennel in Southern California.
Euro and his partner, Officer Adam Miller, were
recognized as being one of the top five
narcotics detections teams in the State,
compiling an impressive 698 deployments and
seizing large amounts of methamphetamine,
heroin, cocaine and marijuana. The
Department says Euro always made his presence
known when he was a passenger in Officer
Miller's vehicle and was famous for being "very
vocal." They say he encountered some
health issues at the end of 2009 that could not
be corrected, and their veterinarian recommended
that he be euthanized.
The Salem Police Department says they will be
looking for a replacement for Euro to team with
Officer Miller
+++++++++++
MORE:
SALEM, Ore. - A narcotics
dog that spent the last six
years with the Salem Police
Department is now gone,
leaving a big hole in the
police force. Euro, a
9-year-old
Belgian Malinois,
worked with Officer Adam
Miller and together they
were recognized as one of
the top five narcotics
detection teams in the
state. Between
the two of them they had 698
deployments and seized five
pounds of meth, over five
pounds of heroin, over a
pound of cocaine, over 80
pounds of marijuana, over
4,200 oxycontin pills and
over $1.1 million in cash.
Euro began having health
issues at the end of 2009.
MORE:
The Salem Police
Department is mourning the loss of their narcotics dog,
"Euro."
K9 Euro began his career
with the Salem Police Department in February of 2004
when he was obtained from a kennel in Southern California.
Euro and his partner, Officer Adam Miller,
were recognized as being one of the top five narcotics detections
teams in the State.
The
Salem Police Department is mourning the loss of their
narcotics dog, "Euro." The 9-year old Belgian Malinois began
his career with the Salem Police Department in February of
2004 when he was obtained from a kennel in Southern
California. Euro and his partner, Officer Adam Miller, were
recognized as being one of the top five narcotics detections
teams in the State, compiling an impressive 698 deployments
and seizing large amounts of methamphetamine, heroin,
cocaine and marijuana. The Department says Euro always made
his presence known when he was a passenger in Officer
Miller's vehicle and was famous for being "very vocal." They
say he encountered some health issues at the end of 2009
that could not be corrected, and their veterinarian
recommended that he be euthanized. The Salem Police
Department says they will be looking for a replacement for
Euro to team with Officer Miller.
submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA
In
Loving Memory of
K9 ENZO
January
18, 2010
Handler: Officer
Darren Persha
Tinley Park
Police
7850 W. 183RD
STREET
Tinley Park,
IL 60477
Ph:
708-444-5300
Fax:
708-444-5399
Police bid
farewell to one of their own
Tinley Park police officer Darren Persha shows a picture of Enzo,
his canine partner and family companion who recently passed
away.
Tinley Park
Police officer Darren Persha has set up a memorial to his K-9
partner Enzo who recently passed away.
For most of
his life, Enzo was a part of the Tinley Park community. The
German shepherd was a valued member of the police department -
helping this partner Officer Darren Persha sniff out bad guys,
drugs and other contraband. But that's not all. The canine
officer also was an integral part of the Persha family - going
home with his partner at the end of every shift. Now the Persha
and the police department are mourning a great loss. Enzo, who
had been retired from the force, had to be put to sleep Jan. 18
after suffering from painful arthritis and other ailments.
"It was probably the hardest decision I've ever made in my
life," Persha said. "If he could talk I'm sure he would have
told me it was OK." Persha points to the special bond he and
Enzo had. "You're letting your partner go," he said. "Enzo was
ready at any given time to make the ultimate sacrifice for me."
The 12-year-old dog, known for his bright golden eyes, had been
with Persha since 2000. Persha had always wanted to be partnered
with a canine cop, and when the opportunity opened up in Tinley
Park, he went for it. So he was sent to training and to be
paired up with a dog.
As soon as he had the chance to work with Enzo, he knew he'd
found a perfect partner. "We really did click," Persha said.
"The chemistry really worked together." And Enzo, who had been
brought to the United States from Germany, was great at his job,
Persha said. The first week on the job, Enzo and Persha were on
duty when a chase ensued. A man suspected of committing fraud
had fled from police and ended up crashing his car near the 80th
Avenue Metro station where he ran into nearby woods. Enzo ran
into the woods and led Persha right to the man hiding in the
brush.
"Enzo did exactly what he was supposed to do," Persha said with
pride in his voice. "It was awesome." For the next six years
Enzo rode right behind Persha in their police SUV. Finding bad
guys and talking to schools and community groups. But in 2006,
Enzo "slowed down," Persha said. "Enzo was ready for
retirement," he said. "It was time to hang up his badge." But it
took the working dog some getting used to. "For six years, he
was my shadow. Everywhere I went, he went," Persha said. "I'd
close the door (to go to work), but he wanted to follow."
In his retirement, Enzo became just a regular dog and remained a
big part of the Persha family, which includes Enzo's wife Debi;
Hanna, 12; Nicholas, 7 and a 9-year-old blind black Labrador
named Lynnie. The kids grew up with their big, gentle friend and
Lynnie is lost without Enzo - he was her eyes. "He's going to be
missed a lot," Persha said. "He really became a member of the
family."
submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA
|
Memorials
to Fallen K-9s 
