 Memorials
to Fallen K-9s
2001
page
6
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National
Police Week - May
13 -19, 2001
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F.A.S.T.
Co. donates cards to all partners
of
all
working dogs/horses sent by priority mail
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In
Loving Memory of
K-9
ARGO
May
6, 2001- October 5, 1991
Partner
Sgt.
Paul Shaughnessy
C.M.H.A.
Police Dept.
Ohio
Cleveland,
O 44104
216.739-7837
Thank
you Paul, for the photos, & phone call
Good
luck with your new K-9
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FAREWELL
TO A K-9 COMRADE
5/12/01
By Mike Tobin & James Ewinger
It had
all the trappings of a police funeral - the procession of cruisers with
flashing red and blue lights, the honor guard, the final volley of
gunshots.
The only difference was that when the kilt-clad policeman played
"Amazing
Grace," the air was filled by the sounds of bagpipes - and barking
dogs.
Man and beast alike paid final homage to a fallen comrade yesterday as
Argo the police dog was buried at an animal cemetery in
Richfield.
"We look at this as seriously as if one of our human officers would
have
died," said Stanley Murrey, a deputy chief with the Cleveland
Metropolitan
Housing Authority police department.
"He's
going to be missed by our department." After nearly a decade of
tangling
with violent criminals, Argo died from a chest infection early Sunday
afternoon.
The robust German shepherd had served the CMHA police, assisted
numerous
other departments and saved his handler, CMHA Sgt. Paul Shaughnessy,
from
death or serious injury at least a half-dozen times. Last weekend,
Shaughnessy
tried to save Argo, rushing him to a veterinary clinic because he was
not
eating. Shaughnessy spent Saturday night at his partner's side, went
home
the next day and expected to return that day to bring Argo home with
him.
Instead, he had to plan a funeral. More than sixty people attended
yesterday's
memorial, including about forty police officers from departments
throughout
Northeast Ohio, as well as two dozen police dogs and their handlers.
"When
a police dog goes down, police come from all over," said Tom Schmidt,
who
breeds German shepherds. "Police are a close-knit group, and the K-9
units
are even closer." When he wasn't patrolling with Shaughnessy, Argo was
a fixture at the Justice Center because his partner had to testify
frequently.
"We got thousands of arrests. That's why you saw him in court every
day,"
Shaughnessy said. "Nobody gets away." Last Nov. Argo tracked down a
juvenile
who was a suspect in a homicide and carjacking. The youth had eluded
sixty
Cleveland police officers during a chase and subsequent search.
Shaughnessy
said he was nearly beaten to death last year by a man who already had
been
imprisoned twice for assaulting police officers. But Argo leapt from
the
patrol car and brought the attack to an end. "I have no doubt that guy
would have killed me," Shaughnessy said.
E-mail:
mtobin@plaind.com & jewinger@plaind.com
Phone:
216-999-3905
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In
Loving Memory of
K-9
IRON
April
30, 1997
Medal
of Valor Awarded May 13, 2001
Partner:
K-9
Officer James Losee
Norfolk
Police Dept. VA
Police
Administration Building
100
Brooke Ave. Norfolk, VA 23510
4
years
later, May 2001
Officer
Losee recieved the above
K-9
IRON
January
30, 1997
After
0010 hours on January 30, 1997 in the Oakmont Section of the city of
Norfolk,
VA. Officers responded to a home invasion robbery in progress. The
victims
were inside on the phone to the dispatchers. When a Second Patrol
Division
Officer attended the front door to assess the situation, two suspects
fled
out of the rear window. Officer Jim Losee and His K-9 "Iron" were
covering
the rear as the suspects tried to flee. Officer Losee gave 3 verbal
warnings
to the suspects who refused to stop, and released his dog "IRON" to
apprehend
them. "Iron" apprehended one of the supects and the suspect fired a
gunshot
into Officer Losee and "Iron's" direction. The gunshot struck "Iron".
The
dog released the suspect and then immediately re-engaged him one more
time
and was shot again, causing him to release the gunman a second time.
Even
after being shot two times "Iron" went after the suspect a third time.
This time the suspect shot "Iron" two more times with a 9mm semi-auto
pistol,
killing "Iron". Officer Losee returned fire immediatley striking the
suspect.
The suspect ran approximatley 200 yards before colapsing near a fence,
and died at the scene . The suspect was 20 year old Oren Harrison.
Harrison
was wanted for First degree Murder, sexual battery, kidnapping, and
burgarly
by Miami's Metro/Dade County Police. K9 "Iron" was a six year old
Belgian
Malinois that had been with the Norfolk Police Depatment three years.
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K-9 Jaymo 2003
|
.. |
Policeman's
effort
brings K-9 officer
belated medal of
valor
By
CINDY CLAYTON, The Virginian-Pilot© May 13, 2001
NORFOLK
-- K-9 Officers Ron Godwin and James Losee were checking equipment and
gathering keys one night last spring when they struck up a
conversation,
which turned to the subject of awards. Godwin was about to receive a
commendation
and wanted to see Losee's medal for a shootout in 1997. Losee had shot
and killed a suspect who fired at him and his 6-year-old Belgian
malinois,
Iron. The dog was gunned down. After that night, the story mostly was
recounted
for investigators and the attention was all on Iron. That was fine with
Losee, because Iron probably saved his life. The dog was buried with
full
police honors. His funeral drew widespread attention and was attended
by
K-9 officers from across the state and as far away as North Carolina.
His
death inspired cards, letters and awards from across the country. His
name
was placed on a wall at the American Police Hall of Fame in Miami. But
Iron and Losee were never officially recognized by the Norfolk Police
Department.
Losee didn't have a medal. That's not right, Godwin thought. Something
should be done. He would nominate Losee and Iron to the department's
awards
committee. But first, he wanted to hear the details.
It
would
be four years before most of Losee's colleagues would hear the details
of the running gun battle. It took four days and several drafts before
Godwin's nomination letter was perfect. A month later, he heard that
the
awards committee had voted unanimously on a medal of valor. Losee, who
now patrols with a German shepherd named ZAK, accepted his medal at a
ceremony
earlier this year. He also received a white and gold police cross for
Iron,
who is buried in Garden of the Pines Pet Cemetery on Salem Road in
Virginia
Beach. Lobo, a Norfolk police dog hit by a car in 1983, rests beside
him.
Losee still insists that Iron was the hero that night. Godwin thinks
Losee
was, too.``It takes a lot of guts to stand there and fire back,''
Godwin
said. ``I thought it was an extremely brave thing to do.'' Reach Cindy cclayton@pilotonline.com /
or 446-2540.
thank
you Cindy, for all your help to bring closure to Officer Losee.
and
thank you Jim & Deborah for the photos.
 
Jim
& K-9-Zak
Just
a short note to let you know that K-9 Zak is now retired. His last
evening
on the street was Saturday. He served me for 4 great years and we
made many arrests. He will now retire and is our home security
K-9.
I have a new dog named Jaymo. He is from the Netherlands.
I think we will have a great career together also. hope all is well
with
you. Thanks for the great K-9 site. Jim Losee
K9 Zak died... see memorial on .......
now has K9 Jaymo - photo on the left, 2004.
....
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