Memorials to Fallen K-9s

2013-Q
The F.A.S.T. Co. donates sets of memorial cards to all partners
I need your help to inform me of such losses.

Dept. addresses available for those who want to send condolences to officers. See below

In Loving Memory of
K9 QUANTO
October 7, 2013

Handler: Const. Matt Williamson

Edmonton Police Service

9620 - 103A Avenue
Edmonton, AB. T5H 0H7
CANADA

Edmonton police dog dies in stabbing

City cop dog Quanto died after taking down a man who then turned his weapon on the service canine. The dog latched
onto the culprit during a pursuit near 109 Street and 111 Avenue around 5:15 a.m. Monday. The man turned his
weapon on the dog, inflicting the fatal wound. Quanto, whose handler is Const. Matt Williamson, made it to an
emergency vet clinic but eventually died of his injuries. Quanto was a member of the city police K-9
unit for three years. In July of this year, Quanto helped capture a man charged with six home invasions, assault and robbery.

Quanto was part of a foot chase near 121 Avenue and 91 Street after a man told police he'd been assaulted and
robbed before the home invader fled. Residents were credited by police for guiding them during the search,
as Quanto and his handler climbed fences, travelled through yards, and along high-traffic areas. The
hunt continued for two hours before a 25-year-old man was arrested and charged. Over the past few decades,
several cop canines have died or been seriously wounded in the line of duty. In December 2009, city police dog,
Cora was attacked by a weapon-wielding man in west Edmonton. Cora survived the injuries.

City police dogs hurt or killed in the line of duty date back to 1988. Some of the higher profile cases include:
Brix, then a four-year veteran of the city police service, became the first dog to die in the dog unit's history.
While chasing a suspected car thief Dec. 5, 1988, Brix was hit by a police vehicle that accidentally struck
the dog. The following year, on Aug. 27, police dog Titus was fatally struck by a passing car while chasing
down a suspect who was fleeing on foot in south Edmonton. • On June 23, 1998, a six-year-old Rottweiler
named Caesar was shot and killed as the police dog tried to tackle a suicidal gunman in a northside
schoolyard. On July 27, 2006, police dog Wizzard was stabbed multiple times as he tried to tackle a
man who jumped out of the bedroom window of a Hazeldean home and ran from cops.
Wizzard survived and returned to duty. submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA

Police said Quanto is the fifth police dog to be killed in the line of duty;
the last death was in June 1998, when PSD Caesar died.
The Edmonton Police Canine Unit was officially formed in 1967,
although it got its start almost 5 years earlier (in 1963) thanks
to Maynard Vallevand and his dog, Sarge mwho became the first team.

MORE:
Calgary Herald October 9, 2013

Since the death Monday of Quanto, a German shepherd that worked for the Edmonton Police Service, social media have been overwhelmed with comments to the effect that the man responsible for stabbing the dog should be charged with
murder.Quanto was stabbed when he helped take down a fleeing suspect who had a knife. Under the Criminal Code,
the suspect can only be charged with cruelty to animals. While a murder charge in the case of a police dog’s
death is without a doubt over the top, cruelty to animals seems to be not quite enough. These dogs are providing
a service to humankind, and when one is killed in the line of duty, its death should count for something more
than a cruelty charge for the suspect responsible.

The five-year-old dog, a member of the canine unit for four years, was credited with 100 arrests. When he was stabbed
Monday, he was pursuing a man who was fleeing a car with stolen plates. The Canadian Police Canine Association has been pressing for stricter laws to punish those who injure or kill police dogs,
according to the organization’s director, Sgt. Murray Pollock, who heads up the Calgary police canine unit.
It’s definitely an idea whose time has come. And while it should not be a murder charge, the provisions of
Quanto’s Law should make it abundantly clear that a police dog has some well-deserved status in our justice system.

MORE:
Julia Parrish, CTV Edmonton
Published Thursday, October 17, 2013 12:14PM MDT - Last Updated Thursday, October 17, 2013 1:09PM MDT
An Edmonton police officer whose canine partner was killed during the pursuit of a suspect is pleased the federal
government has pledged to introduce harsher punishments for people found guilty of killing or harming service animals – with a law that
bears his dog’s name. Cst. Matthew Williamson was in attendance Wednesday when Governor General David Johnston
delivered the throne speech in Ottawa.

As part of the speech, Johnston referred to ‘Quanto’s Law’.

Related Stories
Man charged with killing police service dog to appear in court again next week Provincial and federal officials reviewing penalties for harming service animals Police dog dies after early morning stabbing Photos . Edmonton Police Service Dog Quanto was killed while helping to capture a suspect early Monday morning. Quanto is seen in this supplied undated image. "I was very flattered": Cst. Matt Williamson speaks to CTV News after the Throne Speech was delivered in Ottawa Wednesday, October 16. “Our government recognizes the daily risks taken by police officers, and their service animals,” Johnston said in the speech. “It will bring forward Quanto’s Law in honour of them.”
Williamson told CTV News after the speech that he was honoured the legislation is named after his late canine partner.
“I was very touched that he was mentioned during it,” Cst. Matt Williamson said Wednesday. “I didn’t expect it, I really
thought that it would be a generic introduction, it was very personalized, I was very flattered.”
Back on Monday, October 7, Cst. Williamson and Quanto were deployed to apprehend a suspect.
Police had been pursuing a man driving a stolen vehicle, and the Canine Unit was called to the area at about 5:15 a.m.
to assist. The vehicle crashed into a median, and the suspect tried to flee on foot – when Quanto was deployed and
engaged with the suspect in the parking lot at RCMP K-Division located near 109 Street and 111 Avenue.
It’s alleged the suspect stabbed Quanto, who was rushed to the Edmonton Veterinary Emergency Clinic,
where he died at about 5:30 a.m.
Now, Paul Joseph Vukmanich, 27, is facing a number of charges, including cruelty to an animal.
In the days following the incident, pressure has increased on officials to make punishments harsher for those convicted
of killing or maiming service animals. It’s for that reason that Cst. Williamson and Cst. Troy Carriere,
both with the EPS Canine Unit, were in Ottawa, with the intention of meeting with the Prime Minister about the issue.
At this time, the maximum punishment for a person convicted of animal cruelty is five years behind bars.
With files from Laura Tupper
More:

Quanto's law brings closure after police dog's death, say police

Police dog stabbed while chasing suspect earlier this month

Edmonton police called for a special law to protect service dogs after
Quanto was stabbed during a chase earlier this month.
(Edmonton Police Service)

QUANTO'S LAW
the proposed amendment to the criminal code to protect police service dogs and horses,
is one step toward closure in the dog's death earlier this month, says Edmonton Canine Unit acting
Staff Sgt. Troy Carriere.
"It doesn't bring complete closure to what happened, but it's a start," Carrierre said one day after returning
from Ottawa where he and Quanto's handler, Const. Matt Williamson, attended the Speech from the Throne.
"They've really done a very good job dealing with the scope of what we can deal with out on the street."

Carriere also announced that the EPS will host a memorial for Quanto on Oct. 27th.
The amendment means that for the first time it will be against the law to harm or kill a police dog in the line of duty.
Previously the strongest charge that could be laid was cruelty to an animal. The suspect left the vehicle after a
crash at 111th Avenue and 109th Street and was chased by Const. Matt Williamson and police service
dog Quanto, a five-year-old German shepherd with four years of decorated service.
Quanto was stabbed repeatedly when he approached the suspect.

The 27-year-old man, wanted on a Canada-wide warrant for armed robberies in Winnipeg and Thunder Bay, Ont.,
was charged with possession of a weapon, dangerous driving, resisting arrest, criminal flight and possession of stolen property.