 Memorials
to Fallen K-9s 2003 page 42 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
| (Late entry) In Loving Memory of K-9 TURO August 1999  Partner: Julie D. Schmidt Jefferson County Police 768 Barret Ave. Louisville, KY Tour of duty: 1994 - 1999 Turo retired in 1999. He was a SERIOUS K-9! |
Turo was my first a BIG Shepherd that I
loved so much. I had to put him to sleep after he developed Lyme
disease which triggered a muscle disease. The day I took him to
the vets to put him to sleep I got up and put my uniform on and told
him we were going to work. Jessy was living with us by then but
he didn't care as he thought he was really going to work! As I
drove down the road I said DEER DEER as he used to love to bark at the
deer that I would spot light along the road on the way home from work
at night. I got to the vets office and there were eight of
my closest police officer friends to joined me. They petted
him and let him know they were there and then we all went to the back
room where I held him tightly and told him I loved him as he fell
asleep. I cried my eyes out and so did some of the others (not
the men of course, but they were having a hard time with
it!) I had him cremated and a special urn made so he still
lives with me and Jessy and Tessa. Jessy has a long story
tell but in a nut shell. ...The trainer told me that I had given her a
new life. She had been owned by a policeman in Indiana that had a
few car wrecks with her in it. She had also been found in the
back of the car. I assume this was after one of his many wrecks
with a collapsed lung. She would not work for him after she
recovered six months later. I went and got her. Her previous
handler traded her back in just before her twelve month guarentee had
ended. I had heard she was a heck of a dog before all
of her wrecks. My seargent told me that if she didn't work I HAD
to take her back. She was so bonded to the kennel guy that I had
to peel her away from him. He had cared for her for about four
months. No one wanted her as she was a female and had been in the
car wrecks. It took a day or two and we were bonded
and a week later she was working again. She never did like the
car. I drove like a "gradma." Guys made fun of me
because on CODE 3 runs, I drove like I was going to Sunday
school. To this day, she watches me as I get into uniform every
night and looks so happy when I tell her she is on vacation and to get
on the couch. She would then watches happily as Tessa (present K9) gets in that big
gray car! Turo and Jessy brought me great joy. They made me popular
with the public and the upper command plus the beat guys. To this
day, children that Jessy visited in school still come up to me at
outtings such as the state fair and ask, "Where's Jessy?" I
would tell them she is resting on the couch and happy to be
there! I have had so many experiences in the eight years
that I have been in K9, and will share with you all. |
| In Loving Memory of K-9 SAMPSON December 11, 2003 Partner: Officer Lenny Frazier Anna Arundel County Police Dept. 8495 Veterans Highway
Millersville, MD. 21108
|
K9 Sampson and his partner Officer Lenny Frazier, Anne Arundel County Police Dept. Maryland, began working together in February 1999. Sampson was a Patrol/Narcotics Police K9. Sampson was diagnosed with a very aggressive and fast growing cancer about two weeks prior to his death. He was euthanized on December 11, 2003. |
| In Loving Memory of K-9 ECHO December 19, 2003  Partner: Officer Sean Siggins South York Regional Police Dept. 47 E. High Street New Freedom, PA 17349 |
Ecko was tragically killed by a
speeding vehicle on Monday, December 15th. Sean Siggins is his handler
and K9 are with the S. York Regional Police Dept., 47 E. High Street,
New Freedom, PA 17349. A fund has been set up for K9 Echo email : Theresa Furrow, RT,CVT Sr. Pediatric Cardiovascular Technologist Pediatric Cardiology/Cardiac Catheterization Lab University of Maryland Medical System 22 S. Greene Street Baltimore, Maryland 21201 410-328-6667 410-328-8670 fax submitted by Rodney & Theresa Furrow |
| Late
entry In Loving Memory of K-9 FRITZ date:  Partner: Officer Art Guertin Virginia Beach Police Dept. VA Leroy Road Virginia Beach, Virginia 23456 (757) 427-5000 Fritz was one of 5 K-9s that started the unit in Virginia Beach, VA in 1970. He worked with a previous officer before partnered with Officer Art Guertin. Life in those days with a K-9 was different from today. The Ford patrol cars were emptied of their back seat and replaced with a wooden floor for the K9. They patroled together until this was replaced by Ford Boncos (jeep like auto). They only did night work due to no air conditioning in cars. The windows were kept open to cool down from the hot summer days in Virginia. They were trained for searches, attacks, and obedience. Art worked 6 months with Fritz and he saved his life at least two times. On night, Art noticed a pick-up truck down a deserted lane behind a furniture store. hey drove the patrol car into wooded lane with no lights on. Art checked it out. Upon investigating, it was a vehicle used to transfer stolen goods. K-9 Fritz allerted Art to a gun and jumped out of the car and ran toward the truck. The gun dropped to ground. thus; saved Art. He then went to other side with gun out and leash on Fritz, wrapped around arm. With one arm on Fritz lined up aside truck... apprehend driver... located passenger and got another gun on floor board. Another time, as they were passsing gas station one early morning, he noticed the bay window was out, went back to check, Fritz jumped out of car, appreheneded burglars with a chase. Fritz saved Art's life several times and made many apprehensions. Fritz's previous handler didn't keep up with medications for him and he developed heart worms. Fritz survived the cure and retired with Art and family. After retiring, he lived a year before the hip arthritis became so bad, he had to be put down. |
Today's Virgina Beach K9 Unit:
The Virginia Beach Police Department K-9 Unit was started with one K-9 team in 1960. It was increased to twelve K-9 teams in 1965. Today, it has a current strength of fourteen K-9 teams. The unit consists of one sergeant, fourteen master police officers that are all handlers. The dogs are all males and thirteen are used for patrol. The patrol dogs are European imported German Shepherds and one is a Belgian Malinois. Another European German Shepherd is trained for explosive detection. It will also alert on firearms. These dogs are all trained to respond to Czech commands. It takes approximately 14 weeks to train a new dog and handler the basics. Over the years, our experience has shown that the imported work dogs are easiest to train and serve. Therefore, we do not accept donated dogs for use in the unit. The patrol dogs of the unit respond to and can be
utilized for:
The narcotics dogs are used for:
The bomb dog can be used for:
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