Partner: Police Officer Dustin Cooke
Moorhead Police Department – Patrol Division
City of Moorhead - KS
(218) 299-5103 – Lt. Office
(701) 451-7660 – Dispatch
(218) 299-5182 – Fax Lt. Office
From: Lt. Tory Jacobson #105
 

Retired Moorhead Police Dog “Cody” passed away over the Memorial Weekend at the age of 13, appropriately at his handler’s side.  His career with the Police Department started in 1994 when he graduated from the St. Paul Police Canine Training Center as the youngest Police Dog trained.  His dedication was only matched by his love for the job.  He retired from the department in 1999 to a life in the Country with his family.  The years to follow were wonderful, but never could match the incredible time he had serving the City of Moorhead.  Being a part of the Police Canine Program is an achievement that few dogs ever experience.  These dogs fully understand at a human level what undertaking and responsibility they have and take it very seriously.  They will not hesitate to protect and will serve with everything they have.  We are very proud to have them on our force.
“Cody” is credited with many accomplishments throughout his career.  Among them was being the first area dog to conduct random School drug searches.  Although he never knew why those drugs had to be found, I know he loved all the children and this was an opportunity to protect them just as well.  During his career, he is credited with seizing approximately $460,000 worth of drugs and assets.  His highest recognized accomplishment was being selected as the United States Police Canine of the Quarter for his involvement in the 1998 July 4th riot in Romkey Park.  For the Officers that were there and those that worked close by his side, we salute “Cody” for his service. 

I would like to thank everyone that supported “Cody” and me as a team and the continued support shown for the Moorhead Police Canine Program.  We now have one more Hero to honor during Memorial Day.

submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA

SOUTH HUTCHINSON - A hot garage contributed to the death Monday of South Hutchinson Police Department's narcotics-sniffing yellow Labrador retriever, Tailey, officials said. SOUTH HUTCHINSON - A hot garage contributed to the death Monday of South Hutchinson Police Department's narcotics-sniffing yellow Labrador retriever, Tailey, officials said. 
The 7-year-old dog died in a garage kennel at the home of her handler, Police Officer Dustin Cooke. The dead K-9 was brought Monday to Purple Wildcat Animal Clinic in South Hutchinson, and veterinarian Dr. Dan Naiman said the death "was due probably to the heat stress." City authorities did not request an autopsy, he said."We attribute it to heat exhaustion," said Lt. Detective Tim Skomal, second in command at South Hutchinson Police Department.
He noted that Tailey became especially nervous during stormy weather - managing to escape from kennels - so Cooke put the dog in a kennel in his garage.  A spokesman for the National Weather Service in Wichita said the weather turned stormy Sunday night. On Monday, temperatures reached a high of 82 degrees in Hutchinson.  Cooke lives in the Pretty Prairie area, about 25 miles south of Hutchinson. Efforts to contact him Thursday were unsuccessful, but Skomal said Cooke was "hit hard" by Tailey's death.
Police headquarters was informed of the dog's death at about 4:30 p.m. Monday, Skomal said.  Skomal said Cooke "took precautions" to get air to Tailey, by placing a fan and water in the garage. Besides the heat, Skomal said, stress exacerbated by the dog's reaction to the weather also led to its death.
South Hutchinson Police Chief Scott Jones will conduct an internal review of the matter. Skomal said Cooke wants another drug dog, but that decision involves approval by the South Hutchinson City Council.
Acquiring a trained narcotics dog can cost from $5,000 to $15,000, Skomal said, with another $1,000 to $2,000 to train the officer.
The Reno County Sheriff Department owns a Malawa named Daisy that is trained to sniff for narcotics and conduct article and people searches, Undersheriff Dennis Stofer said. Hutchinson Correctional Facility also has trained dogs.  In this photo, South Hutchinson Police Department's drug-sniffing dog, 'Tailey,' demonstrates her abilities during a press conference in September 2003. File photo. 
Tailey was born in El Dorado and trained by Rick Elliott, the master trainer and head K-9 handler for Hutchinson Correctional Facility, who died May 24. 
The Hill City Police Department bought Tailey, and Officer Cole Presley became her handler in 2002. The Kansas Army National Guard deployed Presley in spring 2003, and the Hill City Police Department loaned Tailey to the Reno County Sheriff's Department.  Reno County Sheriff Randy Henderson had hoped to buy Tailey.  Statistics show that between Tailey's arrival in the department in August 2003 and the end of 2003, she participated in 40 searches, including 27 vehicle searches and 13 building and schools searches. She worked in drug seizures that netted marijuana, methamphetamines, cocaine vials and crack cocaine pipes.  But Hill City wanted Tailey back when Presley returned in 2004. He later became undersheriff for Graham County, and Hill City wound up selling Tailey to South Hutchinson.  "What was she doing in a garage?" Hill City Police Chief Russ Ingle asked upon learning of Tailey's death.  Storms "really bothered her quite a bit," Ingle said.
Presley estimated Tailey was roughly at "midcareer" for a police dog. He noted she was eager to work, but in a small town he couldn't spend all his time doing drug work."She was an excellent dog," Presley said.
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Robert Marin KWCH 12 Eyewitness News Tuesday, June 6, 2006

Severe storms leave a path of damage across several Kansas counties early Tuesday morning. The hardest hit areas were in Stafford and southwest Reno Counties.  The town of Turon in southwest Reno County was without power since early Tuesday after high winds whipped power lines and snapped utility poles. The winds also knocked down numerous tree limbs and destroyed a grain bin at an elevator in Turon.  Wind gusts measured at 80 miles an hour were reported near St. John in Stafford County. There were also reports of numerous tree limbs and even damage to a home southwest of St. John.  The storms weakened by the time they hit the Wichita area. Count on Storm Team 12 for complete coverage anytime severe weather strikes.

By BILL TEETER  STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER    6/23/06

Darby the police dog with officer Brian Hintz in May 2001. Darby died after escaping from a kennel and going to Hintz's home while Hintz was away.
GRAPEVINE -- Darby, a Grapevine police dog, died Thursday morning because he could not stand to be away from his handler.
The 8-year-old German shepherd escaped from a Corinth boarding kennel and veterinary clinic and ran to the home of his handler, officer Brian Hintz, Grapevine police Sgt. Bob Murphy said.
Hintz dropped off the sable-colored dog at the boarding kennel because he was going out of town for a few days, Murphy said.
When Hintz found Darby at his Corinth-area residence, the dog was in physical distress. Hintz immediately took Darby back to the veterinary clinic, where he died. The death may be heat-related, Murphy said.
The dog will be examined by another veterinarian to determine the cause of death, Murphy said.
Hintz had been Darby's handler since the department got the dog in 2001, Murphy said.  "This incident was devastating to him," Murphy said, referring to Hintz.  Darby was trained for narcotics, patrol, tracking and attack work, and had an outstanding career, he said. The department is planning a memorial service, but details are not final.

submitted by Jim Cortina

Joanne, I said, I want an independent bitch.  A smart bitch, a nice 
 bitch. I got all that and more.  Jadzia was the smartest dog that has ever lived here.  She was beautiful.  She was independent.  She was a partner... not a junior partner, but a  full partner, a partner on her terms. She was a fighter to the end.   Jadzia was quick to train, but always held the right to do the most 
interesting thing.  That led her to run-away adventures that delighted
her and made her human friends hysterical.  Once she went on an eight day 
 adventure that distressed her sitter, her friends, and certainly her 
owner.  She survived a journey that led her across a major local
highway,  Route 1, and Interstate 95.  When she decided she'd had enough she
found a  person and asked to go home.  Difficult with other dogs, I could hand
her  to a young person to show and she behaved like quite the lady in the
ring.  At home she was most certainly in charge of the boys.   She trained with FEMA VA TF-1.  She was a good cadaver dog.  I was always  proud of her.
Jadzia never disappointed me; I was not good enough for her.  Most of
all she lived as any one of us would want to live:  True to herself and
free. submitted by: Beth Barkley
 "Find 'Em K9"

Arno retired earlier this year after being diagnosed with prostate cancer. Lt. Vic Wahl, who worked with Arno, says he anticipates a memorial service for Arno in mid-July, and calls Arno "a visible and popular ambassador to the public." Arno died June 25.

Sgt. Chris Boyd and her K9 partner Arno began serving the community in Aug. of 1999. Arno was the first dual-purpose police service dog ever assigned to a City of Madison police officer. Arno is trained and certified in narcotics detection, tracking, building/area searches, evidence searches, apprehensions and handler protection. Sgt. Boyd and Arno have been assigned to the Dane County Narcotics and Gang Task Force for the last six years, and began working patrol in February of 2005 (when MPD's first patrol K9 unit was formed).

Arno is a Dutch Shepard from Holland, born in 1996. Over the past six years, Arno has been responsible for the arrest of numerous felony suspects. Arno's keen sense of smell this has allowed him to locate drugs and evidence, and to locate suspects that would have otherwise gone undetected. Sgt. Boyd and Arno have received numerous recognitions and awards from law enforcement agencies and community groups including the meritorious K9 narcotics find presented by the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Canine Handlers Association in 2001, 2002 and 2004. Through the years Arno has proven to be a valuable tool to both law enforcement and the community. DIED 6/25/06 ( prostate cancer )

 submitted by Jim Cortina

DiDi, an 11-year-old German shepherd who worked with Dane County Sheriff Deputy Scott Lindner, died June 16. Lindner says she was frequently called on for searches at the airport, especially after 9/11, and also helped prepare for the arrival of such dignitaries as the Dalai Lama, Al Gore and Hillary Clinton.
"That dog could track with the best of them," wrote Lindner to coworkers after DiDi's death. "I can honestly say that the community loved that dog."
Didi was a  German Shepherd born in Holland. Didi began working with the Dane County Sheriff's Office in September of 1997 and has been trained to detect bombs as well as other explosive items. Deputy Lindner and Didi risk their lives to search buildings and packages believed to contain harmful items. They also work on special details such as protecting the Vice President of the United States and other special dignitaries when they visit our area. K-9 Didi is affectionate, intelligent and a very trustworthy friend and partner.
Personal message - K-9 Didi says, "You too can help K-9 Didi make a difference in your community by reporting suspicious activity to your local police".

submitted by Jim Cortina