Memorials to Fallen K-9s 
 2005 page 16
The F.A.S.T. Co. donates sets of memorial 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 CHEYENNE
1/22/01 ~ 5/17/04

Handler: Rhonda Krofecheck
Tri County K-9 Search Team
PA
 		Trainling and cadaver K-9
TRI-County K-9 Search Team

  Rhonda is the handler. Her & K-9 Cheyenne were members with the TRI-County K-9 Search Team and was a duel purpose trained in Tracking & Cadaver .    Cheyenne SAR Oeskeso......means SAR....search and rescue and Oeskeso means dog in indian.
Cheyenne came to live with me from Vandalia, MO on April 19, 2001 as my birthday present from Scott.   Started training at 4 months old, obedience and runaways, tracking.  At 6 months attended her first cadaver class.   December 24,2002  had 9 puppies.   Lived with her best friend Bud, Boyfriend...Mondo, Best Girlfriend....Gracie
More than friends.......Partners Forever!!!!!!!


submitted by : Matt Smelser
In Loving Memory of
K-9 HORAND
June 16, 2005

Partner:     Mike O'Hagan
Westchester Police Dept.
10300 W Roosevelt Rd
Westchester, Illinois 60154
(708)345-0060
Westchester: Taking a bite out of crime
 Westchester's K-9 police dog "Horand" was born and trained across the ocean in Holland,  but his knowledge of drugs and his keen sense for tracking is anything but foreign.  For the past five years, since Officer Michael O'Hagan Sr. first presented a proposal, the Village has considered the possibility of initiating a K-9 Unit.  One of the barriers of implementation was the cost involved in purchasing and training an expert dog.  However, a substantial drug seizure two years ago returned a significant portion of the monies seized to the Village to be used specifically for drug enforcement expenditures.  Police Chief Robert Smith saw this as a perfect opportunity and the K-9 Unit was established with those funds - eliminating any costs to the taxpayers.
Horand, a German Shepherd, was born in the country of Holland on December 23rd, 1996 and, because he was trained for police work there, Officer O'Hagan must give the dog its directives in Dutch.  After comprehensive day-in and day-out training at Vohne Liche Kennels in Denver (Indiana) beginning in September 1998, Horand earned his Westchester badge this December.   "People have to realize that a dog is an extension of my abilities", explained Officer O'Hagan.  If, during a traffic stop, someone has cocaine on the front seat of their car at night, I could not see it without a flashlight and a sea rch.   Horand would sniff it out immediately.  In this way, we have arrested an individual that may have otherwise gone free."
Horand had become a very active member of the Westchester Police Department.  He makes tours of the Westchester schools, is available for block parties, is present at the Annual Westchester Fest and is a participant in Westchester's D.A.R.E. program.
 

Name:      Horand
Badge # :     123 1/2
Title :     Dual Purpose Police K-9
Sex :     Male
Birthday :     12/23/1995
Country :     Holland
Weight :     75 Lbs
Hair :     Brown/Black
Eyes :     Brown
Date of Hire :     09/30/1998

It is with great sadness that I inform you of the passing of my friend and retired K-9 partner Horand.  As you know, Horand was our 9 1/2 year old German Shepherd. He was a member of our family and served 6 1/2 years with the Westchester Police Department before retiring April 30, 2005.    The decision to allow him to retire was very difficult, but as the signs of age and years of intense work and training began to show, it was decided he should be allowed to retire in comfort rather than crippled old age. Unfortunately, his retirement was cut short by an unexpected infection that quickly took over him. Horand allowed our new K-9 "Brix" into our family in May, and I believe that once he was satisfied that Brix would now take good care of his family, he ended his fight during his sleep by my side on the morning of June 16, 2005.

  Horand worked over 600 calls for service and was a specialist for locating narcotics on traffic stops and search warrants. He searched over 400 vehicles recovering more than $34,000 worth in drugs for many agencies. Horand has been responsible for numerous arrests, seized several drug vehicles, and identified more than $275,000.00 in narcotics related currency for Westchester and other departments during his career. Horand also conducted building searches and suspect tracks in an effort to protect his fellow officers. He was trained to protect and bite, but never abused his abilities. He showed amazing restraint in social settings and especially around children. He spent six years taking over 3,000 photos with kids at the Westchester Fun Fest and I believe he enjoyed every moment.    I look for him by my side now, but he is not there, and is not coming back. I wish he was, I still love him to death, and I really miss him. He touched many lives through his short time here. He was a gifted friend who was retired but will never be replaced.
  I thank everyone who helped make him feel that way. He will be greatly missed.
     submitted by John Gillespie                     Sincerely, Mike 


In Loving Memory of
K-9 BANDIT
June 19, 2005

Partner: T. G. Anderson
Pasadena Police Dept.
1114 Jeff Ginn Memorial Drive
 Pasadena, Texas 77506
 713-477-1221.


 
Just wanted to let everyone know that Bandit, my partner for 11 years,
 passed away yesterday, "Fathers Day."
 He was 14 years old and as cantakerous as ever. He spent the last year living as a "normal" dog relaxing everyday in the backyard.
I cannot say enough about his career and the fact that
he taught me how to be a dog handler.
 He will always live in my heart and be a legend
to those who knew him.
Farewell my friend, until we meet again.

Terry
President of the
National Police Canine Association.

submitted by Ron Labarriere
The Officers each handle dual-purpose canines and the entire unit trains together each week in order to maintain a high skill level of the K-9 teams.

CANINE ACTIVITIES

ACTIVITIES

1999

2000

2001

Area Searche

 

 

 

   Business

39

54

64

   Residential

0

2

13

   Open Field Track

24

45

31

   Other Searches

8

3

11

   K9 Apprehensions

10

17

10

Narcotic Searches

 

 

 

   Vehicle

50

52

67

   Residential

19

13

30

   Building

1

6

9

   Other

8

3

4

Narcotic Detection

 

 

 

   Marijuana

46 lbs. 21 oz.

236.50 lbs.

280.614 lbs.

   Cocaine

6.8 lbs.

1 kilo, 38gr.

551.71 lbs.

   Heroine

1 gr.

 

 

Money Seizures

$170,361

$273,216

$145,979.53

Mutual Aid Requests

36

33

35

K-9 Demonstrations

6

27

10


In Loving Memory of
K-9 MIKA
moved to page 17