Memorials to Fallen K-9s 
 2001 page 8 

F.A.S.T. Co. donates cards to all partners 
of all working dogs/horses as long as their is an address. 
In Loving Memory of
K-9 "BRUNO"
May 23, 2001

Partner:  Lt. Ethan A. Hazard
The Pine Knoll Shores Police Department 
M.M. Muhlig, Chief of Police
100 Municipal Circle
Pine Knoll Shores, NC 28512
Chief's Office:
(252) 247-4353 ext. 15


 7/30/01 "KYRA"
the newest officer & Partner for Lt. Hazard.
Congratulations & welcome to NC.
Bruno will never be forgotten

.
Dec. 2001 Mary @ top of Tanzania.
  2002 

Chief Mary had a serious car accident, MARCH 2002
The Highway Patrolman and local police at the scene of the accident thought the driver of my vehicle was dead (yup, I was the driver). I was traveling north on a two lane highway (speed limit 55) and someone going south decided to cut across the median and try to drive through my vehicle to get to a side road - it did not work! I saw the car coming and that was it I couldn't go anywhere just wait for that dreaded sound of impact. The impact (it-boned me in the driver's side door) spun my car around and threw it into another vehicle stopped at the side  road - that person was also transported to the hospital but thankfully was ok - if my vehicle had not hit that car I would have probably flipped and gone down the embankment. I can remember coming to and trying to figure out where I was -it turns out the impact broke my seat and shoved my seat half way into the passenger side. I was literally looking up at the roof of my car. My legs came up under the dash and shattered the dash and were up under what was left of the dashboard and side of the car (the metal from the outside of the driver's door was partially inside and up against the left side of my body). My right side (kidney area) slammed into the center console and smashed it and somehow I was partially on top of the passenger's seat. The steering wheel was broken in half and the rear of the car was pushed up almost the back of the front seats. Anyway, I had a major concussion, torn muscles in my thoracic spine, left shoulder, deltoid area, and others. Lovely bruises on my face and legs (but no broken bones - amazing). 
I want to thank you for your wonderful web site and being a kind and understanding person. So many people fail to understand that the death of this "dog" was actually the loss of a partner and police officer. I have now lost two officers that were mine as a chief; one was a "human" police officer killed in the line of duty, and I feel the loss no less with Bruno. We have a saddened police department. Lt. Hazard has a 10 year old boy that is also devastated. Bruno was the complete K-9, talented, loyal, fearless and a loving family pet. Bruno earned countless awards for successful drug raids, finding lost children and the elderly, locating escaped prisoners and valor. Bruno proved himself repeatedly. He always served his partner and community with pride and  professionalism. Intelligent, loyal and fearless were his police traits. Loving, face licking "good boy" was his soul. He will be a partner for life. His death is still under investigation. Bruno was found hanging outside of his kennel at his handler's home on the morning of May 23,2001. We may never know exactly what took place or how Bruno was lost to all of us. The difficult thing is he is gone and we must pull it together and go on. Bruno would have it no other way.
Mary M. Muhlig,  Chief of Police- Pine Knoll Shores, NC 


Bruno's headstone & Pine Knoll Shore Officers
The flag was present to Ethan on Oct. 9, 2001

Bruno's cards were received with much appreciation 6-7-01

  2002  continue......
The worst thing was my beloved Gabby was in the car too and in all the mayhem of trying to get me out of the car some very nice people who had stopped were trying to get Gabby out and she got away from them. She ran across four lanes of traffic into the woods. I would not let them keep me in the hospital and went searching for my "child". The local police were WONDERFUL - formed search parties and in freezing temps we looked and looked  - through the woods, through the water and mud FOR 3 DAYS! The local newspaper ran an ad for mewith Gabby's picture and I had flyers printed up and posted in every mailbox  with, of course, a reward offered. People would see her and she would run away  - it was awful because I was always just 5 minutes late getting to her. Finally, friends were due in to get me and take me home and to a hospital when the chief of the   police department called and said "I see her and she' so about 1 block from you right now". Finally she had gotten herself inside a huge fenced in area and the entire police department drove through front yards and backyards and surrounded Gabby. I, at long last got my hands on her!!! Everyone was crying out in the middle of this field! I know the neighbors probably thought we were after some big time criminal after we tore through everyone's yard! Gabby had some cuts on her paws and had lost 2 lb.. but she was fine! just could not thank that police department enough - they were a very small department with old,old,old equipment. I went and got them a new scanner and printer and Gabby and I delivered it on the way out of town (police departments cannot accept gifts so I told the Chief to consider it "found property". I don't know how Gabby made it - but finding her sure helped me to make it! Anyway, staying out of the hospital did not really help my condition but Gabby was more important than my problems at that time. After months and months of procedures and 20 plus injections in my back and shoulder it was determined that nothing could be done for my shoulder and upper back. I went through withdrawal to get off all the narcotics (that was pure hell and some other time I'll tell you about oxycotin hell). I went through rehab in Charlotte for a month and I am as good as I can be right now. I have some permanent disability but not enough to keep me from work! It has been a long haul and friends and loved ones like you guys helped me make it. Well, I guess I need to get to work but I did want to fill you in a little. 

further updates
 The accident is a mystery for me and the investigating trooper - the other driver simply said she wanted to turn down that side street and just did not see me! no drugs, alcohol or functioning brain cells I guess (smile). It could have been worse so I just continue on and try to remember how much stronger I am for it (that which does not kill us makes us stronger). well, I am heading out to check my town and patrol.  Mary
p.s. Gabby is a 7 year old mixed breed schnauzer / lab "wanna be police dog". The Shallotte Police Department who were instrumental in finding Gabby.
In Loving Memory of
K-9 "AXEL"
May 22, 2001
German Shepherd

Partner Cpl. Greg Manis
Long Beach Police Dept. CA

In Loving Memory of
K-9 "ROCCO"
May 27, 2001
(Dutch Shepherd)   LODD

Partner Officer Ernest Wolosewicz 
Long Beach Police Dept. CA

Long Beach Police Dept.
100 Long Beach Blvd, Long Beach, CA 
90802, phone number 562 570-7260


 
On Monday, May 14th, 2001, at approximately 7 p.m., Long Beach Police Officer Ernest Wolosewicz and his K-9 partner Rocco, a 2 1/2-year-old Dutch Shepard, responded to a possible intruder call at the Latin American Museum of Art, 628 Alamitos Avenue.  Rocco discovered an open roof access door and continued his search.  From the building's roof, Rocco attempted to jump onto an awning.  The awning gave way and Rocco fell hitting his back against a railing.  On Wednesday, May 16th, Rocco was put down after it was discovered that he broke back and he would be permanently paralyzed.

sent cards for both K-9s, Oct. 15, 2001
Thanks to Jim Cortina &  Nancy Cotton,  Secretary, LBK9OA
 for photos.
 MEMORIAL SERVICES FOR TWO POLICE K-9'S
The Long Beach Police Department is saddened to announce the Memorial Services for two of the Department's Patrol K-9's.  On May 14, 2001, Rocco, with only three months on the job, was critically injured after a fall during a burglary investigation and was euthanized on May 16, 2001.  On May 19, 2001, the second K-9, Axel, died at home from a sudden intestinal problem.  The Memorial Services for both dogs will be held on Thursday, May 31, 2001, at 3:00 p.m., at the Long Beach Police Academy, 7290 East Carson Street, Long Beach.  The Long Beach K-9 Officer's Association will be raising funds to replace the much needed service dogs.  Tax-deductible contributions can be sent to the association at P.O Box 17366, Long Beach, CA 90807.  For further information, please contact the Long Beach Police K-9 Detail at (562) 570-5971.

Axel and Rocco, two beloved Long Beach police dogs who died in the same week, were memorialized Thursday afternoon before a crowd of officers, canines and other mourners gathered at the Long Beach Police Academy. Panting in the hot sun, about 20 police dogs from Long Beach, Orange County and as far away as Pismo Beach sat on mats flanking their officer partners and rows of seated spectators at the service. The animals marked the close of the service with a symphony of loud barking, tugging at their leads as the 21-gun salute commenced.  "I think they want to go chase bad guys," a boy whispered to himself toward the memorial's end.  "Some people think an animal is just an animal," observed Debbie Lim, 40, her infant nephew asleep in her arms. "But when they serve us, these dogs become a part of the family." Lim works at a fast-food restaurant frequented by many of the K-9 officers. Because dogs are not known for long attention spans, the double funeral was brief, opening with a Police Department color guard and drummer and including remarks from the department chaplain and the playing of taps. "It was wonderful, very respectful," said Clarice Mooney, widow of Bill Mooney, the Long Beach police chief who started the canine unit in the city 23 years ago. The funeral was held near the special cemetery the department and its formidable citizen support group maintain for 30 departed police dogs. Each deceased service dog has a headstone, in which its cremated remains are entombed should the cemetery need to be moved. That has already happened once, when the Police Academy had to move to make way for the Towne Center shopping complex off the southbound San Gabriel River Freeway.  Rocco and Axel will be laid to rest at the cemetery, where each headstone features a photograph of the dog and its handler. The headstones surround a lawn beside the department's kennels, where the dogs stay while their handlers receive training.   On the night of May 14, Rocco was pursuing a possible burglar at the Museum of Latin American Art. A 2 1/2-year-old Dutch shepherd whose specialty was tracking people by scent, Rocco followed a trail onto the roof. He leaped onto an aluminum awning which collapsed. Then he struck a railing, which broke his back and left him paralyzed. He was euthanized two days later. Three days later, Axel, a 7-year-old German shepherd, was found dead in the garden of Cpl. Greg Manis, his partner of four years. A veterinarian later determined that Axel had a rare but lethal intestinal disorder.  "My youngest [son] decided to name his tadpole Axel," Manis said, "so his name will live on." Rocco's death marked only the third time a Long Beach police dog has died in the line of duty. To lose two police dogs in the same year, much less in the same week, is rare.  "It hit us pretty hard," said Officer Richard Lubchenko, who brought his dog, Jaro, along for the funeral but, because of the withering heat, "tossed him back in the air-conditioned car with a bowl of water." Along with a large police presence, there were a sizable number of people who just love dogs and felt the loss of the pair.  In what is already a dog-loving town, there is a citizens group called the Long Beach K-9  Officers Assn., which hosted a reception after the funeral. 

By NANCY WRIDE, Times Staff Writer
In Loving Memory of
K-9 "ADDI"
May 25, 2001

Partner:  Chris Vasquez
Houston I.S.D. PD
1200 Travis St.
Houston, TX  77002
Phone K-9 Div. 713 812.5151

The Houston I.S.D. Police Department along with Handler Chris Vasquez are moarning the loss of one of there K-9's . K-9 Addi was diagnised with Hip and Back problems that would not let her do what she lived to do. K-9 Addi expired friday May 25, 2001.
K-9 Addi was used in detecting contraband inside of Houston Schools. Addi was very dedicated and worked up to the week of her diagnosis. She will be missed. K-9 Officer Chris Vasquez plans to start the search to replace his partner this summer, and be ready to work with the K-9 when the new school year starts. 

.
I tried to call Houston ISDPD,
no information available.
If anyone knows more about Addi, please
email luluthank you


10/18/01
Addi was our neighbor for a little over a year.  I have seen her perform
some of her talent within our neighborhood.  She was amazing. 
It was sad to see her go and Chris (her handler) dearly misses her. 
He has received his new "partner" named Carlo. 
I am not sure who submitted the information you have. 
I talk to Chris on a daily basis. 
I am sure he would love to submit a photo and tell more.
Sincerely,
Laura Strothers

  Received above email. Isn't the Internet a marvelous tool?
Waiting to hear more and let everyone see beautiful Addi.

 

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