memorial2001

Memorials to Fallen K-9s

2003 page 12
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 & emails connected to handlers for those who want to send condolences to officers. See below

In Loving Memory of
K-9 MARCO
April 16, 2003

Partner: Officer Scott Lindsley
Melbourne Police Dept.
650 N Apollo Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32935
(321)259-1211 - x 3411 - K9 Unit

More About MARCO

We selected and purchased Marco when he was 14 months old. His temperament was the primary reason for the selection. Even as young as he was, he knew how to "turn it on and turn it off." He developed into an extremely effective Police Officer. Over his 4 plus years on the Department, he racked up more than 50 apprehensions. In March of 2002, Marco was stabbed by an Armed Robbery suspect who had already stabbed another Police K9. Marco recovered from that injury and continued his service to the Police Department.

.cards mailed 4/22/02

Marco also knew how to be a loving pet. He lived at home with Officer Scott Lindsley and his family, wife and two daughters. Marco loved to perform for schools and other public demonstrations. During his service he conducted more than 30 demonstrations and was always a big hit. Marco and Scott took first place in the Working Dog Competition at Patrick Air Force Base in March of 2000 in the Patrol/Criminal Apprehension category. He was cross trained in Narcotics Detection and was instrumental in several seizures of drugs. Marco will be missed by all of us. He served his community and his handler well.
submitted by Bryan Brice

Runaway K-9 hit by car, dies
A Melbourne police dog escaped from a kennel Wednesday night, sparking a massive police search involving three police departments and the Brevard County Sheriff's Office. It ended when the dog was found dead, apparently hit by a vehicle. Comdr.. Ron Bell, Melbourne police spokesman, said "Marco" had been staying at the East Coast Canine Motel Inc. in West Melbourne. Marco was last seen about 8 p.m. near the Saturn dealership and Sam's Club on U.S. 192, near Interstate 95. Officer Scott Lindsley, Marco's handler, dropped off the 6 to 7 year old German shepherd at the kennel about 4 p.m. Wednesday because he was getting ready to go on vacation. That vacation was interrupted when Lindsley got a call at 7:20 p.m. and was told his dog escaped a fenced area in the kennel. Lindsley then joined about 20 other Sheriff's Office deputies and police officers, from Melbourne, West Melbourne and Palm Bay, to look for the dog around the Sam's Club area. Marco was found at 11 p.m. Wednesday near Rollins College on John Rodes Boulevard.
Notified by J. Cortina - CPWDA

In Loving Memory of
K-9 ALKO
LODD
April 20, 2003

Partner: Deputy Frank Glover
Lee County Sheriff Dept. FL
14750 Six Mile Cypress Pkwy.
Ft. Myers, Florida 33912
(239) 477-1000

Police dog dies as result of injuries
By JEFF CULL
A 6 year old sheriff's dog died Sunday of injuries suffered while trying to protect his partner and help capture a knife wielding prowler the day before. Alko, a German shepherd and three year veteran of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, died at 4 p.m. Sunday. He is believed to be the first K-9 officer to die on duty, said Lt. Rich Dobson, supervisor of the major crimes unit for the sheriff’s office. “The unit was formed in the late 1970s, and we’ve never had one killed in the line of duty,” he said. Alko died of injuries received when the suspect, Roger Jackson, 34, reportedly stabbed and kicked him Saturday trying to escape deputies. The stab wounds, Dobson said, did not appear serious. “It was blunt trauma,” he said. “The guy was just kicking him.” An autopsy this week will determine the cause of death. Deputy Frank Glover, Alko’s handler, was also wounded when Jackson slashed him with a knife after leading deputies on a brief car chase. Glover was released from the hospital with 12 stitches and 34 staples in his left arm. Another deputy, Vallie Arvin, 39, was treated for bruises and was back to work Sunday. Glover was extremely upset over the loss of his partner of three years, Dobson said, and did not want to talk about the incident. Jackson, who has prior arrests including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and domestic violence, was “acting bizarre” when Arvin approached him at about 3:30 p.m. Saturday, a report said. He initially cooperated but turned on Arvin, punching and kicking her before escaping, according to the report. Jackson then led deputies on a short car chase before abandoning his vehicle and jumping into a canal. Alko caught up with Jackson, but Jackson began punching the dog. Glover jumped to Alko’s aid and was severely cut by a knife Jackson held, the report said. After using Tasers and chemical agents, deputies were able to subdue Jackson. Alko was taken to the Suburban Animal Hospital on Palm Beach Boulevard with two stab wounds and internal injuries, Dobson said. Jackson remained in the Lee County jail Sunday in lieu of $100,000 bond. He is charged with aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest with violence, fleeing and attempting to elude, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and battery on a police dog.
Alko was a very good work dog, but he was also a wonderful pet.

Our 16 month old daughter still carries his favorite chew toy, ( they used to play tug of war with it), around the house calling for him. We all miss the way he would wake us up with a cold wet nose, in the face every morning. We are all trying to adjust and get to know the new dog, but we will never forget our Alko.

Notified by J. Cortina - CPWDA
cards out 5/29/03

Hundreds remember K-9 'partner' at service
Saturday, April 26, 2003 - By STEVE SCHMADEKE,
With somber ceremony, the first Lee County police dog killed on the job in the past 40 years was memorialized Friday. The 6 year old German shepherd, Alko, who served with Lee County sheriff's Cpl. Frank Glover for three years, died Sunday from injuries suffered while helping his handler arrest a knife wielding man in Fort Myers.

Lee County Sheriff's officers carry police dog Alko, a 6 year old German shepherd who died in the line of duty protecting handler Cpl. Frank Glover, through a procession of close to 50 K-9 police dogs during a memorial service at the Lee County Civic Center in Fort Myers on Friday. Gary Coronado/Staff

"He'll be missed because he laid down his life for his friends," Sheriff Rod Shoap said in a speech to the 300 or so law enforcement officers from across the state who gathered at the Lee County Civic Center. Observers dabbed their eyes as a white casket containing the dog's remains was carried into the auditorium by four police officers in full dress uniform. A woman had passed out black bands beforehand that some officers put over their badges.
Cpl. Glover, who still has stitches from last weekend's attack, sat in the front row of blue folding chairs, while police officials stood up and gave superlative laden speeches about courage and transcendence and the bond people have with their dogs. "I don't think police dogs die," said Sgt. Steve Ford, altering a line from Gen. George MacArthur's famous speech to Congress. "They're just ... in another place, waiting for their next assignment." "Alko tore up more of my training equipment by himself than the rest of the K-9 unit combined," said Cpl. Russell Graham, who choked up several times as he described the fight that took the dog's life.

Lee County Sheriff's Cpl. Frank Glover, with his wife, Laya, and stepson, Toby, attend the memorial service for Glover's police dog, Alko, at the Lee County Civic Center in Fort Myers on Friday. Gary Coronado/Staff

"Your actions during this battle easily could have saved Frank's life," he said, glancing at the white casket. "For this I thank you from the bottom of my heart. You are truly a warrior." The memorial included a "video salute" with footage of Alko training set to Sarah McLachlan's "I Will Remember You," followed by a seven gun salute. A plaque and flag were presented to Cpl. Glover and a long line of officers filed by to shake his hand or hug him. After the event, Sgt. Steve Ford, who oversees the Lee County K-9 unit, explained why police dogs were deserving of such a ceremony. "They are our partners," he said. "I wish there were words that could easily describe that. But the bond that a handler has with his dog is just unexplainable."
Alko will be cremated and his ashes placed in an urn on Cpl. Glover's mantle, Ford said. He added that he was planning to meet Cpl. Glover at an Orlando kennel next week to try to find a new dog compatible with Glover. "In Frank's own words, 'He wants to get back in the saddle as soon as possible,"

In Loving Memory of
K-9 GRANITE
April 21, 2003

Partner: Tpr. Michael Cherven Jr.
Massachusetts State Police
Department of Fire Services
PO BOX 1025 - Stow, MA 01775
State Road, Stow, MA 01775.
PH: 978-567-3310

State police lose K-9 trooper
by Tom Farmer - Thursday, April 24, 2003
The Massachusetts State Police lost one of its bravest and most beloved investigators this week when Granite, an explosives sniffing black Labrador, was struck and killed by a car in Hopkinton at the start of the Boston Marathon.
The 2-year-old dog, one of a dozen used by the State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Section, bolted from trooper Michael Cherven Jr.'s Ford Bronco before he could leash the K-9 and was struck in the head by a passing car.
Cherven, whose late father, Michael Sr., was a detective with the State Fire Marshal's office for 10 years, was so distraught at the scene that his wife, Carolyn, drove there to console him. ``I don't think there are any words that can explain the loss,'' Cherven said yesterday. ``Some people say it's your partner but partners go home at the end of your shift and don't come home and sleep on your pillow or on your bed or at your feet. ``He goes to work with you and is by your side 24 hours a day, seven days a week. I was devoted to him and he was devoted to me.'' State Fire Marshal Stephen Coan has offered to set aside an area at Department of Fire Services headquarters in Stow to bury Granite and other dogs from the unit when they die in the future as a memorial to the valuable and dangerous work they perform. ``It's a great tragedy any of us who have pets can understand in terms of personal loss in addition to the professional loss we have also suffered,'' said Coan.

photo: graduation from Ct. State
Police's 10 week Explosive detection K-9 program.

photo courtesy of MA State Police
Dog killed in pre-race accident
By Norman Miller - Wednesday, April 23, 2003 - Assoc. press.
HOPKINTON -- A bomb sniffing dog brought in to help with Marathon security was killed Monday when he was run over in a staging area before the start of the race. Granite, a 2 1/2-year-old black Labrador, had been on the job for about 1 1/2 years, according to Jennifer Mieth, a spokeswoman for the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services. "It's very sad," said Mieth. "Every person who has a dog or cat, they know it's a member of their family. When you have a dog you work with every day, the bond is even more intense." Granite's partner was Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Cherven Jr., who was assigned to the fire services department. The accident occurred when Cherven and Granite were at a staging area in Hopkinton prior to the race. They were part of a security detail to help control and patrol the 20,000 runners and spectators who gathered in the town. While in the staging area, many of the vehicles were being moved, and Granite jumped out of Cherven's vehicle, and was hit and killed, Mieth said. "He was in the wrong spot at the wrong time," Mieth said. Granite was a trained explosive detection canine, and worked with Cherven in the hazardous devises unit. Cherven was emotionally distraught after the death of his canine partner. "Michael's father was an officer assigned to us, and he was one of the first to have a dog assigned to him -- an arson investigator," said Mieth. "He grew up in a home with state police dogs." "He's absolutely heartbroken," she said.
The death leaves the state fire marshal's office with only four bomb sniffing dogs. The office is in the process of obtaining three more, and one may be assigned to Cherven.
Cherven could not be reached for comment yesterday. Mieth said he took the day off to grieve his fallen comrade.
Granite may be honored in the future, Mieth said. "The marshal is looking to create a burial site here (the Massachusetts Fire fighting Academy in Stow) for any dog who has a death in the line of duty," Mieth said.

UPDATE:
The details for the service are still being worked out but it should be happening soon.
Notified by J. Cortina - CPWDA
cards sent and recd. w/tnx

In Loving Memory of
K-9 CLIFF
Badge #1452
April 23, 2003

Partner: Pfc. Tom Harding
Howard County Police
3410 Courthouse Dr
Ellicott City, MD 21043

Cliff is an 8 year-old German Shepherd and is trained in EXPLOSIVES & FIREARMS detection.
Cliff is the senior canine on the Department and is a favorite amongst the police officers, many of whom knew him when he was a puppy. Cliff's hobbies include sleeping, eating, and sleeping. Cliff is a very dedicated, reliable member of the K-9 unit, and is often used in public presentations and K-9 demonstrations. Cliff that he retired about 2 months ago. Unfortunately, today he had to put his partner to sleep due to advanced displasia and arthritis. Here is a link that should give you enough to put Cliff on line. Cliff was a splendidly sociable pup.

The need to properly match a potential police K-9 with a handler is an extremely complex task. The handler and the K-9 MUST have personalities which compliment and balance one another. The selection of both dog and man is a tedious process, and strict standards must be met to realize the full potential of the K-9 team. Pfc. Harding is a recognized expert in police K-9 training throughout the region and his expertise is reflected within the ranks of the K-9 unit.

Watching Tom Harding work his dogs
inspired me to pursue K-9.
Notified by J. Seilbach - cards mailed April 25

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