Partner: Officer Pete Ward
Louisville Metro Police Department
633 W. Jefferson 
Louisville, KY 40202
502-574.7678
waitg. for email spoke to officer

The Louisville Metro Police lost a retired K-9 on February 9, named Marco. He was a Belgium Malinois and served with Officer Pete Ward.
K-9 Supvr. Sgt. Jeff Whobrey

February 19, 2003, Wilmington Police K-9 Department lost K-9 Pietie, a Belgian Malinois. Pietie was undergoing a cat-scan for obstruction in his nose. During a search in a contaminated creek and wooded area, Pietie was in the process of apprehending a second suspect involved in a robbery when a foreign object was apparently lodged in his nose. He had an allergic reaction to the dye used in the cat-scan and went into cardiac arrest. They were unable to revive him. Officer Donald Witte, handler of five years was by his side.  During Pietie's five years of service he received four outstanding service citations, and one life saving citation.  He was responsible for over 75 drug trafficking arrests, and numerous felony arrests involving guns and stolen cars.  Pietie and his partner Donnie were members of SWAT. Pietie was also North American police work dog certified and Eastern Police K-9 certified. He was well known and adored by everyone.

Dennis O'Connor started the Wilmington K9 unit in 1996 
with Asko.  He became a K9 trainer shortly after. Pietie was one of his first certified Police K-9s. Currently, there are eight K9 handlers in the city. They are a tight group and are all taking the loss of Pietie quite hard. One day while they were training on the third floor of the Police station, Donnie and Dennis turned around and realized Pietie was gone. As
it turned out, Pietie got tired of training and decided to leave.  He got in the elevator, pushed the button and headed down. The elevator stopped on the second floor, Pietie waited like a gentleman as another officer entered. They rode down together and got out at the parking lot. The officer headed to his patrol car as Pietie headed to his. He was tired of training and ready to get some real work done. 

Police dog, Pietie, was cited for outstanding performance during his five years with the Wilmington Police Department.
He died Wednesday, February 19, from an allergic reaction to anesthesia. Wilmington police spokesman, Lt. John Snyder said a foreign substance lodged in K-9 Pietie's nose while he was tracking a suspect last month with his partner, Officer Donnie Witte. The unknown substance caused an infection. Pietie was taken to "Veterinarian Imaging" in Ambler, PA to undergo an MRI. While being prepped for the procedure, Pietie had an allergic reaction to the anesthesia and died. Among his many awards, he was honored with a 
DistinguishedService Ribbon
for assisting an officer who witnessed a gun fight at 24th 
& Tatnall Sts. on August 8, 2001. Snyder said Pietie would especially be missed by city children whom he frequently visited at the schools.

Police from 4 states pay last respects to Wilmington K-9
By TERRI SANGINITI - Staff reporter
02/27/2003A procession of 32 police dogs and their handlers filed into the Riverfront Arts Center on Wednesday for a ceremony honoring Wilmington K-9 Piete, who died last week from injuries received in the line of duty. In December, Officer Donald Witte and the 6-year-old Belgian Malinois were tracking two armed robbers into a heavily wooded area. A piece of wood became imbedded in the dog's nose, causing an infection, K-9 commander Lt. Carolyn Henry said. After being injected with dye at Veterinarian Imaging in Ambler, Pa., while undergoing an MRI to locate the foreign object, the dog went into cardiac arrest and died Feb. 19. Wilmington police officials said Piete's death is the first line-of-duty dog death since the unit was formed in 1997. Piete was one of the unit's first trained police canines and had served for five years, spokesman Cpl. Stephen Martelli said. Piete's memorial ceremony was replete with a police honor guard; bag pipes; chaplain's prayers; taps; and tears and accolades from fellow officers. The 11 a.m. ceremony attracted police and city officials, retired police officers and K-9 law-enforcement representatives from 18 agencies throughout Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, including nine dogs from New Castle County Police Department's unit. There were fond recollections of the way Piete used to run sideways when chasing someone, or how he used to bark louder than his handler spoke over police radio. Witte, who got Piete in 1997 when the dog was 16 months old and trained him, sat at the side of the stage with his family. "I know dogs become a part of the family and actually adopt us," Wilmington Mayor James M. Baker said. "For the citizens of Wilmington, this is a tragedy for all of us." Baker bestowed the city's highest award, the Wilmington Award, on the dog. Applause after each speaker triggered barks and yelps from the nearly three dozen K-9 dogs lined up at attention around the room for the hour-long service. Public Safety Director James Mosley presented Witte with a City Council proclamation citing Piete's five years of achievement as a vital part of the city's K-9 crimefighting team. Wilmington police Chief Michael Szczerba ended the service by retiring Piete's K-9 number 3 from the police roster over police radio. "Memorials can be found in many places and at many times, but principally in our hearts," Szczerba said. Master Cpl. Dennis O'Connor, K-9 unit trainer, said afterward that Witte and his family want to get another dog. "In the meantime, I want to get the best dog out there for Donnie," O'Connor said. "Donnie as a police officer is probably one of the best out there."
Reach Terri Sanginiti at 324-2771. 

K-9 Jeff will be new partner for Donnie