memorial2001

Memorials to Fallen K-9s

2002 page 7
National Police Week May 12-18
F.A.S.T. Co. donates cards to all partners of all working dogs/horsesl

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

In Loving Memory of
"K-9 TANNER"
2000 -April 5, 2002

Partner: Officer Larry Marino, Jr.
Phillipsburg Police Department NJ

Chief of Police Thomas P. Krisak
675 Corliss Ave Phillipsburg, NJ 08865
(908) 454-1121

(sorry Cheif Krisak,
cannot get any help on these 2 K-9s I truly tried!)

In Loving Memory of
"K-9 COLE"
Jan. 2002

Officer Boden
Phillipsburg Police Department NJ

Offier Boden promised photos
in the snail mail.
http://www.users.fast.net/~bobbullet/

In Loving Memory of
K-9 RUDY
LODD
April 19, 2002

Partner: Officer J.R. Perez
Oxnard Police Dept. CA
251 South C. St. Oxnard CA 93030
Mike Matlock
Commander Oxnard, Ca. P.D. 805-385-8290

Cards mailed 4/22/02 & received. Thanks for the cards, JR .
Your letter was shared by both Bob & I with chills & much appreciated.

Many say goodbye to police dog Rudy Oxnard officer
who lost friend, partner to stay in K-9 corps
By Andrea Cavanaugh, Ventra County Star) May 1, 2002

About 200 people, including K-9 officers from as far away as Bakersfield and Las Vegas, gathered Tuesday to pay tribute to Rudy, an Oxnard police service dog stabbed to death during an arrest nearly two weeks ago. A police honor guard flanked a portrait of Rudy on the stage of the Oxnard Performing Arts Center during the emotional, one-hour memorial. "Today is not a sad day," K-9 trainer Rodney Spicer told the group. "It is truly a great day. It's a great day because we're here to honor a hero." Rudy was stabbed to death April 19 as his handler, Officer J.R. Perez, attempted to arrest an Oxnard man. "April 19 was one of the hardest days in my career as a police officer," Perez said from the podium. "I lost my friend, my partner, and a member of my family." Police said Timothy Knight, 20, fleeing from another officer during a traffic stop, ran into a nearby house and knocked over his 92-year-old grandmother. Knight was spotted about 30 minutes later, and brandished a knife at officers before Rudy was sent after him and was stabbed, police said. Rudy continued to subdue the man until officers were able to handcuff Knight, and then collapsed from his injuries and died a short time later, police said. "Rudy was doing his job until the end," said Oxnard police Sgt. Bill Lewis II. Since Rudy started duty in July 2000, he performed about 3,000 assists and was directly responsible for 13 arrests, Lewis said. The 4-year-old Belgian Malinoise excelled in police dog training, Spicer said. "Rudy had a very sensitive nose and he loved to search," Spicer said. "He loved to send people to jail. He was truly an exceptional dog." Perez recalled the first time he saw Rudy. "He was an 80-pound ball of brown fur with more energy than anything I'd ever seen," he said. "Later, I discovered Rudy was also 80 pounds of heart, dedication and love." Rudy is the first Oxnard police service dog killed in the line of duty since the department's K-9 unit was established in 1980, Lewis said. A local auto dealer and an Oxnard resident have donated the estimated $8,500 needed to purchase and train another service dog, which Perez will handle, Lewis said. In the days after Rudy's death, Perez was unsure whether he wanted to continue to be a K-9 officer, Lewis said. But Perez, who dreamed of being a K-9 officer as a child growing up in Oxnard, will be matched with the new dog when selected.

I recieved my new partner last week. His name is "Beemer", and he is a three year old Belgian Malinois. We started our month long training last week at Gold Coast K-9 in Ventura, CA. So far things are going well. He has the makings to be a great police dog. Suffice it to say that even though he is my new partner, "Rudy" will never be replaced or forgotten. On the other side of the coin, the suspect who may have killed "Rudy" had his preliminary hearing last week on June 13th. The suspect's arraignment is set for June 26th, and a trial date will be set soon after. All five dogs in the K-9 unit are male and were raised and initially trained abroad. Senna, Buck, Levi, & Rudy are Belgian Malinois; Argos is a Dutch Shepherd. They all respond to commands in Flemish (Dutch). Although the dogs receive initial training in their home country, once they are imported to the United States, the K-9 teams undergo extensive training together at Gold Coast K-9 Training Center.

5/1/03
Tim Knight, the person who killed "Rudy" pled guilty last month and will be sentenced next week, May 8th, 2003.

Oxnard police dog dies in job-related stabbing
FIRST TO DIE: Rudy, with force for 2 years,
chased man sought for traffic violation.

ByAndrea CavanaughStaff writer (Ventra County Star)April 21, 2002
A police dog died after being stabbed by a knife-wielding man who threatened an Oxnard officer, authorities said Saturday. Rudy, a 4-year-old Belgian Malinois who has served with the Oxnard Police Department for nearly two years, was pronounced dead at an emergency veterinary hospital Friday night, Cmdr. Mike Matlock said. Rudy was the first Oxnard police dog killed in the line of duty, Cmdr. Scott Whitney said. Police arrested Timothy Paul Knight, 20, of Oxnard, on suspicion of stabbing a police service dog causing death, brandishing a deadly weapon on a police officer, resisting arrest and a probation violation. Knight was treated at a hospital for dog bites and was being held in the Ventura County Jail in lieu of $500,000 bail. An officer tried to stop Knight for a traffic violation about 6:30 p.m. in the 1700 block of Tehama Street, Matlock said. Knight ran into his grandmother's house and knocked her to the ground while fleeing from the officer, Matlock said. The grand-mother sustained minor injuries and was treated at the scene by paramedics. About 30 minutes later, officers saw Knight riding in another vehicle. A K-9 officer, J.R. Perez, stopped the car at Ventura Road and Hill Street, and Knight got out with a knife in his hand, Matlock said. Knight taunted the officer from 10 to 15 feet away with the knife in his hand and then fled, and Perez directed Rudy to pursue him, Matlock said. Rudy was stabbed after he caught Knight, Matlock said. Even after receiving the fatal wound, Rudy continued to subdue Knight until officers were able to arrest him, Whitney said. "He had a stab wound and he was still doing his job," Whitney said. "It wasn't until they put the handcuffs on the suspect that the dog lay down."

Memorial service for Rudy on Tues., April 30th, at 10 A.M.
It will be held at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center. The suspect who killed Rudy is still being held in our county jail. He had a court hearing yesterday and tried to get released or his bail reduced. The judge denied both and he is still being held on $500,000 bail. Our District Attornay's office is pursuing this case very strongly, however at this point he is still only facing 8 years in prison. I have been told that thd D.A.'s office will not accept any plea bargains and will insist that he do the maximum time. JR Perez

JR Perez's new partner, BEEMER

In Loving Memory of
"K-9 ZEKE"
April 22, 2002

Handler Francine J. Gaynor
180 Johnson Lane Ovilla,TX 75249

Sarah & Zeke francine & zekes web site

cards mailed 4/26 - recd.

Bonnie Buckley from Adopt Homeless Paws. Merrimac, MA
will have a donation on it's way to Kathy Hinds at MA VestADog program in loving memory of rescued Rottweiler Zeke. He passed away April 22, 2002 from his battle with spleen cancer. Zeke was adopted from Bonnie's Rottweiler rescue program as a 13 week old pup. He had been removed from an abusive home where he was living in a shed with no windows, food or water. He grew into a MARVELOUS companion & shadow to his owner Francine Gaynor. He was loving known as "Zeke, The Wonder Dog". This boy trully touched the hearts of all who knew him or who's paths he crossed along his way. Rest in peace my friend.
Your always in my heart.

From Francine:
I know that I don't know you very well, but I want to thank you from the bottom of my Heart. Zeke was very dear to me.
A very large part of me died with him. I was forever changed having him and forever changed loosing him. I can never even come close to have another, even a bit like him. TO love him was to know him. He could go from bite work to a school full of kids in a second. He was and is my true angle! Thank you for all you have done I do truly appreciate it from the bottom of my heart. More people loved Zeke than I even knew! Bless them all for seeing a great being like Zeke!

Northern Bear Rottweilers
Home of Ch. Northern Bear's "Aurora" Lights CGC, HIT, TDI
and Zeke CD the wonder dog
Francine and the crew!

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