Memorials to Fallen K-9s
2002 page 35 The F.A.S.T. Co. donates sets of 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
|
K-9 LEX December 10, 2002 LODD 
Partner K-9 Officer Bert Combs Portland Police Bureau OR 1111 S.W. 2nd Ave. Portland, OR 97204 503-823-2154
cards mailed Dec. 30th & received with thanks |
"Pretty darned appropriate for a police dog!" On Tuesday, December 10, 2002, at 12:07 p.m., "Lex", the K-9 partner of Officer Bert Combs died of an apparent heart attack while tracking a suspect. After apprehending the suspect, Lex returned to his handler, Officer Combs and died. Lex was a 7-year-old German Shepherd and 6-year veteran of the Portland Police Bureau. Lex was also one of two Portland Police Bureau K-9's trained as a member of the SERT team. Lex was responsible for the capture of 126 suspects during his six years with the Portland Police Bureau. Lex is the third dog trained by Officer Bert Combs since he joined the K-9 unit in 1986. Officer Combs is a Master Trainer of police dogs in the State of Oregon. Lex was very dedicated to his work and to me. Out of all his captures, none really stnads out. They were all bad guys and some were quite dangerous, but Lex made their patures "routine.". I never had a suspect challenge me when Lex was barking and woofing during a confrontation. They always gave up and submitted to arrest. That truly the benefit of having a police dog as a partner. Bad guys will fight with officers, but very rarely will they fight with a German Shepherd. I cannot hoep but wonder if any of those 126 captures that lex made actually saved my life, or kept me from getting hurt. If Lex had not been there, would one of those suspects have made the decision to take me out? I guess I will never know. I do know I loved the little guy and I'd like to think the feeling was mutual. He was a hell of a police dog. 
This Sunday 4/13/03 I start work with my new partner, Brutus. We just finished
training on Wednesday and we're both ready to go. |
|
In Loving Memory of K-9 GATOR 1978 - 1992 
Partner Deputy Mike Fox , now Lt. MONTGOMERY COUNTY SHERIFF DEPT. OH 330 W. Second St. ~ P.O. Box 972 ~ Dayton, Ohio 45422 ~ PH: (937) 225-4357 |
partner, after he lost K-9 Brutus. Gator retired in 1984. Mike left the K-9 Unit and presently retired. Gator was placed on active duty March 2, 1980. During his first three months of duty he made five apprehensions. He was an excellent patrol dog and proved himself numerous times during the course of his service. The trophies were awarded for criminal apprehension work during the United States Police K9 Association Region 6 Field Trials (USPCA) in June of 1982. He won top dog honors in the protection/apprehension work. He was retired in March of 1983.
Deputy
L. Schroeder presented cards and book markers
|
|
K-9 TORI December 14, 2002 
Partner Chief Don Perkins Clay Township Police Department Clay Twp Police Dept-8207 Arlington Rd - Brookville OH 45309 937-833-4015 |
I am
sad to report that the Clay Township, Ohio
|
|
K-9 SKIPPER SAR December 16, 2002 
Handlers: Karen Hardesty Oklahoma K-9 SAR & Heartland SAR Parsons, KS 1955 25000 Rd. Parsons, KS 67357-8442
(cards mailed 1/11/03& recd 1/15/03) |
I think this is the picture of me holding Skipper. Duchess had picked her up and shook her. It was like shaken baby syndrome. She also had one puncture in her shoulder. When the vet drew blood on her Sunday she found Skipper had Addison disease which stops the production of adrenaline. She crashed so fast the vet couldn't do anything for her. Skipper was donated to us in June of 95 after the OKC Bombing. When I first met her she was standing up on a fence grinning at me. She had a remarkable smile. Skipper was a tracking fool. She thought every search was for her and that everyone in the world was put here just to pet and talk to her. Skipper was a talker. She would tell me when people came to the house and talked a lot of the time. Skipper would track for anyone, it didn't mater to her who was on the end of the lead. She was so expressive there was no doubt in your mind she had found what you were looking for. I have very few good pictures of her she was always moving. To get her to rest on a long search I would have to hold her and make her take a break. She never wanted to miss anything. WE will miss her. I dreamed she was still alive the other night and had just been asleep. House is too quite without her. |