Memorials
to Fallen K-9s In Loving Memory of
K9 HECTOR
November 8, 2011
Handler: Cpl. Mark Bascelli
Ridley Park Police Department
230 W. Chester Pike
Ridley Park, PA 19078
Phone:610-362-7401- Fax:(610)362-7403
Email: email@ridleyparkpolice.org
WEBSITE - http://ridleyparkpolice.org/
K9 Hector died
It’s been a rough week for the Ridley Park Police Department, especially Cpl. Mark Bascelli. With regret Tuesday, Chief Tom Byrne announced the death of K-9 Hector. Hector was handled by Bascelli, and was a member of the police department for 10 years. The canine was involved in assisting numerous police departments in the search for illegal drugs, missing persons and fleeing fugitives. Hector last assisted Ridley Township police in searching for subjects involved in a burglary of a convenience store. Hector was also a fixture at many DARE events and graduations in Ridley Park, and also Glenolden and Norwood. Hector was not only handled by Bascelli, he was also a member of his family.
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Tuesday, November 8, 2011 |
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In Loving Memory of
K9 HEX
October 8, 2011
Handlers: Al & Marcia Govednik
Det. Joe Bedford
Henry County Sheriff's Office
311 West Center Street
Cambridge, Illinois 61238
Investigators are awaiting autopsy results to determine what caused the death of Hex the champion German shepherd. Meanwhile, his family is continuing to raise money in hopes of finding his killer or killers. Al and Marcia Govednik found the body of their prized German shepherd the morning of Saturday, October 8, 2011, nearly two weeks after they believe Hex was stolen from their front yard.
"They just beat him and collar was missing and dropped him right there," said Marcia Govednik pointing to a ditch. Since September 26,2011 investigators with the Henry County Sheriff's Department have been putting in countless hours, hoping to find the person or persons responsible. "We work it as a crime until prove it isn't," said Detective Joe Bedford.
Detective Joe Bedford was assigned the canine case. Described as a dog lover himself, he's overwhelmed with the communities outpouring of support. "It's this community, we are a rural farming community and we love people and animals that's just way it is," said Detective Bedford. After discovering his body just yards from their home, the Govednik's are now hoping autopsy results will shed some light on the case receiving some results back Tuesday. "Severely beaten head to tail, 12 broken bones including a crushed skull and it all happened post mortem so he was already dead," said Hex's owner Al Govednik. Al insistent his two time world champion tracking dog didn't just run away to get hit by a car.
"Bones were broken post mortem we walked that area, police walked that area," said Al. Hex will now be cremated. His owners continuing their search for a possible killer. "This isn't just a random act somebody had something against me and that was how they chose to act it out, take my dog and killed him," said Govednik. Along with a $1,000 reward from the Henry county crime stoppers, a website has also been setup at
www.hexmemorialbracelets.com.
There you can buy a bracelet for $5.00 will all proceeds going to help the Govednik's find the person or persons responsible.
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He also is a Schutzhund Judge. submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA
In Loving Memory of
K9 HOPE
2011
Handler: Special Deputy Donald Burrows
Niagara County Sheriff's Office
5526 Niagara Street Ext., P.O. Box 496
Lockport, New York 14095-0496
(716) 438-3393, Fax (716) 438-3302
WEBSITE - http://www.niagarasheriff.com/
Niagara County K-9 Dog Dies
Hope was a working bloodhound and her handler was Special Deputy Donald Burrows. Hope served with the Niagara County Sheriff's Office for 10 years. As a puppy, the late Special Deputy Bill Tohurst helped to train her. In addition to serving the Sheriff's Office, Hope ran trails for many other law enforcement agencies. She along with Special Deputy Burrows assisted the New York State Police and FBI with the Bucky Phillips manhunt and was instrumental by providing information to the Erie County Sheriff's Office Investigators that Joan Diver was not the last person that drove her vehicle and because of that her vehicle was impounded and critical DNA was discovered. Hope loved children and playing hide and seek with them. She most enjoyed demonstrations with kids and her favorite game was matching the shoe with the child that it belonged to. Sheriff Voutour stated that Hope was more than just a K-9 but a member of the Sheriff's law enforcement family and proved her value as a law enforcement officer over and over again.
submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA
In Loving Memory of
K9 HERCULES
August 6, 2011
Sally Russell
Lawrenceville Police Department
300 Jackson Street
Lawrenceville, GA
30046-5721
Police honor K-9 Hercules during memorial service
Dignitaries and Lawrenceville police brass bid adieu Tuesday to a K-9 officer whose efforts on the force were as Herculean as his charm was effective with Gwinnett schoolchildren, officials said. A 10-year Lawrenceville Police Department veteran, German shepherd “Hercules” died last week at age 13 (human years) after long grappling with illness. He’d achieved the rank of sergeant, and was credited with 323 arrests — including a final takedown of home-invasion suspects in April. A full honor service for Hercules, attended by police leaders and Lawrenceville Mayor Judy Johnson, was held at Oak Rest Pet Gardens in Bethlehem, replete with bagpipes and a gun salute. Officer David Russell had handpicked Hercules at Von Liche Kennels in Indiana, and the animal’s service with Lawrenceville police began in July 2001. Russell and colleagues were at the dog’s side when he died Aug. 6, police said. A favorite among his police brethren, with an impressive record of apprehensions, Hercules was certified multiple times by the National Narcotics Detection Dog Association and the American Work Dog Association in both patrol and narcotics detection, officials said. Hercules also had a way with kids. “He was a favorite of school children and community groups, who marveled at his obedience and other abilities,” said Donna Shugart Bethune, spokeswoman for the pet cemetery, which honors police dogs gratis. “(He was) a generous presenter who never shied away from a loving hug or pat on the head from the community.” Hercules’ last official police action was logged in April, when he and Russell were called to assist in locating four armed home-invasion suspects. After an exhausting search, Hercules and Russell apprehended three of the four robbers, police said. In his eulogy, police surmised that Hercules’ hard work in life would pay dividends: An endless supply of Kong dog toys and tennis balls, and a warm little spot in heaven. submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA
In Loving Memory of
K9 HATOS
August 6, 2011
Handler: Jason Manuel
St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office
Louisiana
A St. Martinville police dog who was tracking two escapees from a juvenile detention center died in the line of duty on Saturday.
Shortly before 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, two male juvenile subjects scaled razor wire fences and ran into a heavily wooded area in attempt to flee from the St. Martin Parish Juvenile Detention Center. Following a search by St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office Deputies and Canines, they were apprehended at approximately 12:00 p.m.
One of the canines used to track the two juvenile escapees, K-9 Hatos, died in the line of duty shortly after locating the escaped juveniles. Despite efforts to save him, he died of a heat stroke.
Both subjects sustained injuries during the escape attempt and were treated and released from a local hospital. They were returned to the Juvenile Detention Center where they will both face additional charges of Simple Escape.
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One by one, each canine officer and his human partner filed past the picture of Hatos and the urn containing the fallen dog's ashes. Each dog, professional and alert, stopped briefly to pay respects to one of their own. Hatos, a nearly 3-year-old Belgian Malinois who worked for the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s office, died Aug. 6 of heat exhaustion after pursuing two escaped juvenile inmates. On Friday, Hatos was memorialized just as any other police officer killed in the line of duty would be – with a ceremony befitting a hero. “He loved to work,” said his handler Jason Manuel, choking back tears. “He was always wide open and gave it his all. I’m just so honored to have known him.”
Deputy Manuel was presented a flag, in true fallen-hero style, and an original oil painting of his beloved friend and partner. It was an emotional moment for those present. Representatives from the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office, Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office, Lafayette City Marshall’s office and the Abbeville Police Department all attended the ceremony, along with their canine deputies. Dogs and officers lined each side of the training academy building in tribute to Hatos. “It’s a very emotional thing,” said St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s spokeswoman Ginny Higgins. "These guys live with their dogs 24/7 and care for them. They are more than partners; they are friends.
"And they become part of the family.” St. Martin Parish Sheriff Ronald Theriot offered words of comfort during the ceremony. “We are all family,” he said, “but there is a special family within our family made up of the K9 officers and their dogs. They are a very special group, dedicated and caring. Know that we love you and will remember Hatos always. And, while this is a solemn occasion, it is also a celebration of his life and what he did for us.” Theriot had a special video made of Hatos and Manuel that showed pictures of their time together at work and at play. Louisiana State Rep. Mike Huval read a proclamation expressing his condolences. St. Martin Parish President Guy Cormier also presented a proclamation, designating Aug, 19, 2011, as "Hatos Day" and asking the public to respect all deputies.
“When Hatos got up that morning, Jason fed him and got him ready for work,” said Huval. “He probably had no idea he might not come back from his job. But he did his job to the fullest and didn’t look back.”
The crowd of mourners applauded as each proclamation was read. Some stood silent and some wiped away tears as Taps was played. Dogs and officers stood at attention until it was over. In the end, there were few dry eyes in the room and, as if they, too, needed to shed tears of mourning, the more than 20 canines in attendance whimpered. It was as if they knew, and it was their way of saying goodbye.
submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA
In Loving Memory of
K9 HUNTER
July 4, 2011
Handler: Officer Michael
Moore
Harpersville Police
Department
83 Town Hall
Lane
Harpersville,
AL
35078
(205)
672-2490
K9 Hunter, the
Harpersville Police
Department's drug detection
dog, was struck by a car and
killed on U.S. 280 on July
4, the department announced
today. Hunter escaped from
his enclosure at his
handler's home and ran onto
the highway where he was
struck and killed. In a
press release, the
department said Hunter had
served for several years and
"was instrumental in making
numerous drug cases" for
Harpersville police, the
Shelby County Drug Task
Force, and other agencies.
Hunter also played a major
role in Harpersville's
community outreach efforts,
especially with school
children, the department
said. The death is a blow to
both
"the crime fighting
efforts"
of the department
and to Hunter's handler,
Officer Michael Moore, the
department said.
reporter:
By Jeremy Gray
submitted by Jim
Cortina, Dir. CPWDA
