In Loving Memory of
K9 ULF
May 15, 2000 - May 6, 2008

Handler: K-9 Officer Christian Sciulli
Pittsburgh Police Department
1203 Western Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15233
412 323-7800

Police dog mourned as heroic protector

                     Police dog funeral                    

K-9 officers from across the county stand at attention on Saturday for Ulf, the Pittsburgh police dog killed during a shootout that left 19-year-old Justin Jackson of Knoxville dead.

A dog and a man whose paths crossed, leading to their deaths, were mourned on Saturday from perspectives a world apart, linked by tears. Pittsburgh police yesterday said good-bye to Ulf, the police dog killed in action during a shootout that left a Knoxville man dead. "This dog is a hero. This member of the Pittsburgh Police Bureau deserves this going-away experience," said Police Chief Nate Harper. "Ulf was a good partner. In the line of duty, this dog saved probably two lives, if not more." At the same time, friends and family members of Justin Jackson, 19 -- the man police say shot the dog before officers opened fire on him -- prepared for his funeral. They struggled yesterday to fathom the circumstances of his death, and shared memories of his life. His troubled past included a long history of arrests, but there were bright moments, too, fishing excursions, bowling outings, a recent attempt to dig in and improve his ways, said his father, Donald Jackson of the West End. "Justin made some mistakes, but we would have son-and-father talks, and he would try to understand where I was coming from. He was trying to make changes in his life," his father said. More than 200 police officers and others from Pittsburgh and adjacent communities and from Weirton, W.Va., assembled at the city police Training Academy in Highland Park to salute Ulf, whose name sometimes got an A -- Ulf. A number of the officers were accompanied by their K-9s. Some police veterans wiped at their eyes. At the end of a 40-minute service that included bagpipers playing "Amazing Grace," K-9 Sgt. Chris Micknowski asked for "a moment of reflection and prayer if you wish for all those who have been affected by this tragedy."
Ulf's handler, K-9 Officer Christian Sciulli, an eight-year veteran, sat in a front row of folding chairs, downcast. He was presented Ulf's badge. Several K-9 officers related experiences of Sciulli and Ulf as a unit. Sciulli was to receive the dog's ashes. Harper described Ulf as not "just a dog," but a member of the police department who died in the line of duty and a member of Sciulli's family. The dog was hailed as a good partner and friend to his handler and as a hero for dying in the line of duty. The German shepherd was shot and killed Tuesday by Justin Jackson, police said. Sciulli and another officer returned fire, killing Jackson. Police say Jackson pulled a gun on them before Ulf was released. The officers involved are on administrative leave while the District Attorney's Office investigates.    The shooting outraged and angered Jackson's family. They said police officers are too quick to shoot. Jackson was the third person fatally shot by police in Allegheny County this year.
"It's a tragedy, but we're going to get through it," Donald Jackson said. "Because of the shooting -- and the way it was done -- this is crazy. I definitely don't feel that he should have been killed. I felt they shot him because of the dog. I do feel in my heart that God will see this all comes out in the end." Jackson will be buried Tuesday after funeral services at 11 a.m. at Potter's House Cathedral in Mt. Oliver. Donald Jackson said he and his wife, Anna, were heartbroken, dealing with events "a day at a time." Donald Jackson lamented how Justin had just filled out a new job application and never got to turn it in. "Justin loved to go fishing. We used to go fishing in North Park. It would be me, Justin and my oldest son. We were just fishing for whatever we could catch. We loved to go to Virginia Beach and go saltwater fishing. Justin loved to go crabbing," he said. "Justin loves bowling. He's a lousy bowler, but he tries. "I'm not going to say goodbye. What I'm going to say to him is that he will always be remembered. I don't think you can say goodbye. As a parent, how can you say goodbye? All I can say is that my son will always be loved, he will always be in my heart. He will always be missed. I will never say goodbye. Never."
**************************
++++++++++++++++++UPDATE 2009+++++++++++++++++

Ben Roethlisberger donates police dog to Cook County Sheriff Canine Unit

By Kevin Allen  on September 18, 2009 10:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Ben Roethlisberger comes to Soldier Field this weekend bearing gifts. The Super Bowl champion quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers announced the first grant of the year for  the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation at the Giving Back Fund will go to the Cook County Sheriff's Police Canine Unit,
 according to a press release. The department will use the grant to purchase a new police dog to replace one that recently retired. "It's incredible to see the strong bond that is formed between the dogs and their partners both on the job and at home," Roethlisberger said in the release. Adding another dog to the canine unit "will enable our department to even better serve the citizens of Cook County," said Sheriff Tom Dart. We are honored to be the first recipient of this year's grant and  thank the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation for its generous support to local law enforcement." On the field this weekend, Roethlisberger will be looking to target Hines Ward, who is 117 receiving yards away from 10,000 for his career -- a feat that could be achieved Sunday at Soldier Field. Unlike the canine, it's a gift most Bears fans would most likely prefer he save for another city.                    
*******************

"Big" Ben lends a hand

“Big” Ben  Roethlisberger went back to school Wednesday April 30th.  Ben and his father stopped in at the Pittsburgh Police K-9 School.  Ben got to meet and greet a couple of the police dogs that his foundation has paid for. Ben’s Give Back Foundation gives monies to local Police Departments to purchase and training police dogs.  Ben’s efforts gave the City of Pittsburgh the opportunity to recently purchase two dogs.  Ben and his father became acquainted with Torro & Atos the two German Shepherds the City purchased.  Ben took this opportunity to confirm his commitment to local Law Enforcement. The Foundation has presented grant money to several Municipalities throughout the local area.  Ben plans on giving money to every City Police Department that he plays in the National Football League.

Do NOT judge all NFL Players by VICK!  Ben's one of the BEST!!!!

In Loving Memory of
 MWD K9 URAS A 057 
September 1, 1995 - October 29, 2008
   
Adopted family: Mike Boggs
U.S. Army Military Police
Ft. Carson, CO

I am writing this letter to find out if the Military K-9 I adapted could be placed on your site. His name is Uras and we adopted him in June 2007 after learning that he had to be adopted or put down. After meeting him, and looking at him my family immediately agreed on adopting. He was a great companion and family member. I do not want him forgotten in any way. He served in the U.S. Army Military Police as a bomb dog, drug dog, patrol dog and was the demonstration dog for Ft. Carson, Colorado. He was the best dog I ever had and everyone in the neighborhood met him and fell in love with him.  He was the most gentle dog I have ever seen for being trained as a law enforcement K-9. If it is possible to put him on your site please let me know what I need to do and send you. He served this country for many years.  He died today, October 29, 2008, at home. He turned 13 years old on September 1, 2008.
submitted by Mike Boggs  
More about URAS
Breed: Belgian Shepard
Weight: 76 lbs.
Certified: Patrol
Favorite Toy: Kong
148th Military Police Detachment, Military Working Dog Section, Ft. Carson, CO
card by Provost Marshal's Office, Fort Carson, CO  719 526.2333
MWD Uras was trained at Lackland AFB as Patrol dog on 26 Feb 1998.  His basic training consisted of basic obedience and controlled aggression.  MWD Uras was trained to detect and locate and if necessary detail people whether in buildings or hidden out in fields.   MWD Uras was shipped to Ft. Gordon GA in March 1998, were he served the Military Community while conducting patrol law enforcement operations.  After working for several handlers at Ft. Gordon, MWD Uras was then transfer to Ft. Carson, Colorado.  MWD Uras also served the military community in patrol law enforcement duties.  While assigned at Ft. Carson MWD Uras conducted walking patrols, building searches, and police demonstrations for the general public.  MWD Uras provided not only a great partner to his handler’s, but was greatly appreciated by other Police patrols that he assisted in the carrying out of their duties.  MWD Uras’s presence in most situations allows most situations to de-escalate without harm to the subjects, patrolman, and his handlers.  MWD Uras was able to accomplish every mission asked of him until his retirement in 2007.

In Loving Memory of
K9 UTA
March 31,2008

Handler: Ryan O'Neil 
Wood Dale Police Department 
404 N. Wood Dale Road
Wood Dale, IL 60191
Phone: 630-766-2060
 
Wood Dale's police dog Uta killed Drug-tracking dog somehow hit by car near Elgin home
Uta, a 2-year-old German shepherd with the Wood Dale Police Department's canine unit, was struck and killed Monday by a car in Elgin. By the time Uta reached her second birthday, she had already helped bring numerous criminals to justice and sniffed out thousands of dollars' worth of drugs. Crime fighting came naturally for the German shepherd who joined the Wood Dale Police Department in October.But Uta Vom Ludwigstek's distinguished career proved to be tragically short. She died Monday after being hit by a car in Elgin. "Everyone here is devastated," Wood Dale Deputy Police Chief Greg Vesta said Wednesday. "It was a horrible accident."  Details of the accident still are being pieced together. Police say they believe Uta somehow escaped from a fenced yard where she lived with her handler in Elgin. "We don't know the circumstances completely yet," Vesta said. Uta descended from a long blood line of German shepherds that dedicated their lives to law enforcement. She was born in January 2006 in Germany, where she underwent police training in her first year of life. Last year, she attended a canine academy in Indiana before coming to Wood Dale. Officers helped train her by hiding narcotics in the police building and teaching her to track a burglar and protect her human partner.Uta's specialty was drug tracking and handler protection. She became an active member of the police force in December. In recent weeks, she helped sniff out more than $408,000 worth of cocaine in DuPage County. She was a part of "Operation Scratch Off," a three-month investigation that resulted in the arrest of 24 people. This past weekend, Uta helped Addison police search a building for drugs. On a another recent job, the pooch sniffed out roughly $6,000 worth of crack cocaine and $5,000 in cash in Carol Stream. She's also conducted a few warrant searches at Fenton High School. "In her short time, she's been very active," Vesta said. "We all adored her." Replacing a police canine costs roughly $10,000. Uta was the third dog to work for Wood Dale since the creation of its canine unit in the early '90s. The purchase of another dog would require city council approval.  
submitted by Jim Cortina

Veteran Reno police dog dies 
Utz, a 13-year-old German shepherd working with Reno police Officer Donna Robinson, died Monday of natural causes. Utz was born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and joined the Reno department in 1998. During four years of service, he apprehended more than 10 burglars, found narcotics, firearms and other items and tracked suspects, including two convicted for a homicide and a sexual assault. He also participated in several demonstrations to school children. Utz was loved by the community and the officers whose lives he touched, police said. MORE Utz, a long haired German shepherd and a police canine for the Reno Police Department, died of natural  causes Monday. He was born in Amsterdam, Holland on Sept. 23, 1994 and joined the Reno Police Department on March 29, 1998. He was partnered with Officer Donna Robinson. During Utz's four years of service, he apprehended more than 10 burglars and located narcotics and firearms. He completed successful tracks, locating a homicide suspect in one case and on another, located a sexual assault suspect. Both of these tracks assisted the district attorney's office in obtaining convictions on these two criminals. Utz's duties included several demonstrations to schoolchildren throughout the Reno and Sparks area. Utz was also profiled for the Washoe County Library Reading program. submitted by Jim Cortina.