Memorials to Fallen K-9s    2003 page 32   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   In Loving Memory of K-9 CHARLY April 7, 2003         Partner:  Lt. Sterling Johnson Simi Valley Police Dept. CA 3901 Alamo Street Simi Valley, CA 93063 (805) 583-6950.       Retired K9 Charly dies at age 13 Ventura County Star Retired Simi Valley police K9 officer Charly died April 7 of complications caused by a heart condition. He was 13 years old.  Charly was the sixth canine for the Simi Valley Police Department, beginning his career on Aug. 28, 1992. He was trained for patrol, narcotics detection and SWAT operations. He retired Oct. 25, 1999, when his partner/handler, Sterling Johnson, was promoted to sergeant.  During his seven years of working the streets, Charly was directly involved in 909 arrests, 855 building searches, 2,164 area searches, and 362 narcotic searches. He was recognized for his ability to locate large amounts of narcotics, including cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana. In August 1994, Charly received national notoriety when he was bitten by a suspect he had located. Charly won many K9 competitions in his career. In the 1992 World Police and Fire Games in Colorado Springs, Colo., Charly placed third in obedience and agility. In 1993, he and another Simi Valley police dog, Carlo, won team awards at the Redondo Beach K9 trials.   In Loving Memory of  K-9 DINA June 25, 2003               Partner: 219-926- 1136 Chief Geroge M. Nelson Chesterton Police Department IN 790 BROADWAY CHESTERTON, IN 46304 PHONE - NON-EMERGENCY AND RECORDS (219) 926-1136 K-9 DINA    Died June 25, 2003 Porter P.D. Indiana 926-7611  Dina, a German shepherd who served with the Porter Police Department for four years as its K9 unit, died Wednesday, June 25, 2003, after a short illness. She was 12.  Dina was born in Belgium in 1991 and trained in drug detection and patrol duties at the Global Training Academy in Somerset, Texas. She joined the CPD in 1993 and served until 1997, when her handler resigned from the department. At that point Dina was judged too old to begin fresh with a new handler, and with the gracious permission of the Town Council she retired to the home of Police Chief George Nelson. “She did a lot of fine work while she was with the CPD and she seemed to enjoy her retirement with the family,” Nelson said. “Dina was great with kids and will be missed.”   late entry In Loving Memory of K-9 JAKE November 30, 1997 LODD Partner: Officer Lisa Kern Minneapolis Police Dept.  Minneapolis Police Canine Unit  #15-37th Ave NE  Minneapolis, MN  55421   police@ci.minneapolis.mn.us     Jake was my first police dog partner.  He hit the streets with me in July 1997 after going through basic police dog training at our training center.  He was the smallest dog in the class but kept up with the big boys in every aspect of his job.  On November 30, 1997 at around 10:30 pm we responded to a burglary in progress at a building under renovation in downtown Minneapolis.  We were searching the third floor off lead and Jake went into a bathroom.  The bathroom window had a stick in it to keep the window open.  The window led out onto a rooftop of an adjoining business.  Jake went out this window onto the rooftop and searched a storage shed located on top of the roof.  Jake came out of the storage shed, stuck his nose in the air and began running towards the edge of the rooftop.  I yelled several times for him to stop and he didn't stop running.  He lept over the edge of the roof not knowing that it led to the alley 3 floors below.  As I was yelling for him to stop it caused the officer who was in the back alley to look up in time to see Jake coming towards him off the roof.  The officer backed away and Jake fell to the ground exactly where the officer had been standing.  It appeared as if Jake smelled the officer below as the air currents in the buildings downtown were bringing the scent up to the rooftop.  Jake was still alive and tried to crawl to me when I got into the back alley after having to run down 3 flights of stairs and out around the building.  We brought Jake to an emergency vet in one of the outlying suburbs but after x-rays it was learned that Jake had a severed spine, dislodged heart cavity, and multiple broken ribs.  Jake had to be put to sleep.  Since Jake died I have been working with my k9 partner, Jag, who was purchased by the building owner of the business where Jake died.  Jag is 8 years old and nearing retirement in the next year or two.  Lisa Kern & K9 Jag Minneapolis, MN Police Department late entry In Loving Memory of K-9 BRIT October 6, 1997 Partner: Sgt. Litchult  Miami Police Dept. Florida  (?) Canine "Brit", the first dog, was a cross-trained German Shepherd who was trained in Germany and purchased from a police dog trainer in Bakersfield, California. Sgt. Litchult received his training with "Brit" in California. During his career, "Brit" won many awards such as the Apprehension Citation in 1997 from the Saddle River P.B.A., the Unit Citation in 1995 by the Waldwick Police Chief, the Certificate of Recognition in 1994 by the Allendale and Waldwick P.B.A. for burglar apprehension, the Exceptional Duty Award in 1998 by the Allendale and Waldwick P.B.A., and the Support Services Award by the Ho-Ho-Kus P.B.A. On October 21, 1998, Sgt. Litchult received a posthumous K-9 Service Award for K-9 "Brit" from the American Police Hall of Fame & Museum in Miami, Florida.  "Brit" also appeared several times on television. Sgt. Litchult and "Brit" were such a good team that they were asked to train other canine teams in California. After seven successful years, "Brit" suddenly became ill and developed heart cancer. On October 6, 1997, "Brit" died and was given a full police funeral. "Brit" was cremated and his ashes were given to Sgt. Litchult.                                                                          All memorials on this page were submitted byJim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA with my thanks.... Continue to Page 33 of 2003 K-9 Memorials  Return to K-9 Data Return to Page 31 of 2003 Memorials