In Loving Memory of
K9 FLIP
September 1, 2013
Handler: Officer Joe
Lutkowski
Pocono
Mountain Regional
Police
Pennsylvania
940 PA 18334
Flip, a police dog
who retired in 2010 from
the Pocono Mountain
Regional police after
eight years of service,
died on Sunday.
Flip was 121/2 years
old. He was a patrol dog
and an explosives
detection dog. "I sadly
announce the passing
of our retired K-9
Flip," Pocono Mountain
police Chief Harry Lewis
said. "On behalf of the
entire
PMRPD family, we wish to thank Flip for his years of dedicated service
with PMRPD and for our
community."
MORE:
Man's best
friend was
cops', too
A dog can be
much more than
man's best
friend.
Television and
film have
celebrated dogs
for decades,
showcasing their
impressive
loyalty,
intelligence and
savviness in a
pinch. Lassie,
Rin Tin Tin and
other canine
heroes are the
stuff of legend.
Monroe County
has its own
canine heroes,
mostly unsung.
One of them died
recently with
little fanfare,
despite his
eight years —
decades,
reckoned in "dog
years" — of
public
service.Flip,
the stalwart
German shepherd,
was a member of
the Pocono
Mountain
Regional Police
Department from
2002-2010.
During that
time, he sniffed
out explosives,
tracked and
apprehended
suspects,
located missing
items and
cast-off
evidence.
Flip also
visited schools
and public
events, serving
as an ambassador
for the police
and
demonstrating
his value to the
department and
the community.
He was so
dedicated to his
human partner,
Officer Joe
Lutkowski, that
even off duty,
he'd sit by the
door whenever
Lutkowski left
home, waiting
for his buddy to
get back. Dogs
offer special
skills to law
enforcement.
Their mobile
ears can
identify the
direction of
sound. The
olfactory
capabilities of
a dog are
nothing short of
phenomenal. When
it comes to
directly
tracking a
scent, they have
it all over
humans, who
depend mostly on
visual
observation.
Dogs are nimble.
They can run or
trot over sites
that would be
daunting for
their upright
colleagues. And
dogs are
instinctively
brave, uniquely
useful in a
pinch. Lutkowski
recalled how
police sometimes
arrived at a
burglary scene
with the perps
still inside.
Officers would
warn them to
come out, but if
they refused,
Flip went in.
Sensibly fearing
his jaws, the
violators gave
up. Next time
you pour out the
kibble for your
own pet,
remember the
efforts that
working dogs
like Flip put
forth willingly
and
enthusiastically,
asking for
nothing more
than a pat on
the head in
return. We
salute Flip for
his honorable
service.
submitted by Jim
Cortina, Dir. CPWDA
In Loving Memory of
K9 FLINT
July, 2013
Handler: Sgt. Shane Shamblin
Putnam County Sheriff's
Office
3389 Winfield Road
Winfield, WV 25213
Former Putnam County K9
Officer Honored Posthumously
A longtime member of the Putnam
County Sheriff's Office was
honored posthumously on Tuesday.
Flint Vom Rubohaus, who was a
German Shepherd, was inducted to
the Police Hall of Fame in
August. His handler, Sgt. Shane
Shamblin, accepted the award on
the deceased dog's behalf
Tuesday outside the Putnam
County Sheriff's Office in
Winfield. The 11-year-old dog
passed away in July after
serving eight years with the
department. Shamblin described
Flint as a loyal, goofy,
fun-loving dog that was very
much a member of his work and
personal family. Shamblin said
Flint was vital in the discovery
of narcotics and bad guys.
Shamblin said Flint was a
dedicated officer. "When we're
doing the job, you don't think
about what you're doing."
Shamblin said. "It's just part
of the job, it's what he liked
to do. I think now you look back
and see what great things he did
and how amazing he was." Flint
also enjoyed being around
kids.He often worked security
and conducted searches in
schools. The German Shepherd
retired from the department in
October, 2010 and passed away
July 25th.
submitted by Jim
Cortina, Dir. CPWDA
In Loving Memory of
K9 FRITZ
July 25, 2013
Handler: SGT Shane Shamblin
Putnam County Sheriff's Office
3389 Winfield Road
Winfield, WV 25213
Former Putnam County K-9 Police Dog Dies
Members of the Putnam County Sheriff’s
Department honoring K9 Flint yesterday and
handler SGT Shamblin, prior to
entering Cross Lanes Veterinary Hospital. We
also would like to thank the doctors and
staff yesterday afternoon
that showed a high level of professionalism and sympathy towards all sworn
members of this department.
The Putnam County Sheriff's Office said
goodbye to one of its former four-legged
members this week.
German Shepherd Flint Vom Rubohuas originally named Fritz, worked on the
Putnam County Sheriff's
Department force for eight years. He retired in October of 2010. Flint was
successful in many narcotic
discoveries over the years, including the
location of more than 680 pounds of
marijuana with a street
value of more than $2 million according to
the Putnam County Sheriff's Office. Flint
was also successfully
a part of many missions, where he unselfishly placed himself on the front
line, to protect his handler,
Sergeant Shane Shamblin, and fellow deputies. Flint had been recognized
throughout the
Putnam County School system due to school
searches, demonstration for students, and
security work at
high school football games. Commonly referred to as “The Big G” by his
co-workers, Flint attended two
K-9 competitions hosted by the Charleston Police Department. In 2004,
Flint won first place in the
tracking competition and in 2006 Flint won first place in the narcotic
detection competition.
Flint died on Thursday, July 25. He was 11
and a half years old.
submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA
In Loving Memory of
K9 FLEX & USM Cpl David Sonka
May 4, 2013
Handler: USM Cpl. David Sonka
Afghanistan
U.S. Marine, Cpl. David Sonka, 23, and
his military K9 Flex, who was trying to save him were
killed on 5/4/13 during a combat operation in
Afghanistan's Farah province. Cpl. David Sonka and his
dog, Flex, were killed allegedly during an insider
attack. They were
working with a unit that
was training an Afghan National Army soldier when the
Afghani man allegedly turned his weapon on the Marines.
Cpl. Sonka was from Parker, Colorado.
Also Staff Sgt. Eric Christian, 39, of Warwick, N.Y.,
also was killed in the incident. The two Marines were
assigned to 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion,
Camp Lejeune, N.C. Sonka born in Aurora. He joined the
Marines in August of 2008 and graduated recruit training
in November 2008. During his service Sonka received
numerous personal decorations, including a Navy and
Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Marine Corps Good
Conduct Medal and a Combat Action Ribbon. Sonak attended
military police school, and, once finished, began
courses to
become a Military Working Dog handler. Assigned to the
III Marine Expeditionary Force K9 Section of the Marine
Corps Air Ground Combat Center in California from July
2009 to March 2012, Sonka was then deployed for
Operation Enduring Freedom. Sonka was then assigned to
Marine Special Operations Combat Support Battalion,
Marine Special Operations Support Group at Camp Lejeune,
N.C., where he completed Special Operations Training
Course, and Multi-Purpose Canine Course Phase I and
Phase II. From there, Sonka attached to 2nd Marine
Special.
submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA
In Loving Memory of
K9 FRITZ
January, 2013
Handler: Officer Brandon Randall
Reno-Tahoe International Airport
Memorial
service for airport police canine
The Reno-Tahoe International Airport will hold a memorial
service on Tuesday, Feb. 19 for an airport canine police
officer who passed away last month from a health issue. The
memorial for Fritz will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday at the
Airport Fire Station at 1805 Riley Ave.
It is a tradition to offer police canines a respectful
memorial that is fitting for a police officer. The airport
is inviting the media, local law enforcement and airport
tenants to attend the ceremony. Please note that the Fire
Station is too small to invite the general public.
Fritz
was a highly trained canine explosive detection officer who
worked to protect two US Presidents, 3.5 million passengers
per year and millions of pounds of cargo. His work went
beyond the airport where he used his training to protect
against bomb threats and to ensure the safety of political
candidates and VIPs throughout the region. Since 2007, Fritz
worked with his partner and human handler, Airport Police
Officer Brandon Randall, as one of three airport canine
officers. Fritz was an 85-pound German Shepherd with a fun
and friendly personality combined with a determination to do
his job to protect the flying public.
In Loving Memory of
Handler: Sgt. David Connell
Westford Police Dept.
Massachusetts
When
Sgt. David Connell would leave his home and get into his
cruiser, his partner in the backyard would be itching to
join him, ready to be deployed to the next crime scene. Fax
vom haus Vortkamp, a German shepherd, was a working dog
through and through, Connell said. "Any time he did come out
of the kennel and went into the cruiser, he knew we were
going to work," said Connell. Fax, one of the town's first
K-9s, died last week at Connell's home. He was a few days
shy of his 14th birthday. Fax worked for about seven years
with Connell.
During
some of that time, Connell had another K-9 named Sam, a
German shepherd that died during the height of his career
due to complications from cancer. Westford police Sgt. David
Connell with his police dog Fax. Fax died last week at
Connell's home. Fax, a patrol and narcotics dog, died of old
age. "In mind and spirit, he would have kept going, but his
rear end wouldn't let him," said Connell. Fax recently
started to move slower than he used to and had trouble
getting up due to spinal degeneration. Fax's ashes will be
buried alongside Sam's in a memorial garden outside the
Police Department that is being planned. .
The current K9 narcotics dog,
Misty, is passively trained. She will lie down in front of a
locker where she smells drugs. At home, Fax would spend time
in a specialty kennel that kept him warm in the winter and
cool in the summer. Connell said there are several K-9s that
are treated as pets of their handlers, but Fax got his
stimulation and satisfaction out of working. Although he
never had a live bite, Fax could be a bit edgy around
people, growling when he was in big crowds. Connell said Fax
was what you want in a police dog. If he went into the woods
to look for a dangerous person, Fax would be prepared to
capture that person. "He was all business," said Connell.
Connell said Fax would work
whole-heartedly on whatever task was put in front of him.
"The courage and the strength of these dogs, sending them in
to go after somebody," Connell said. In his retirement, Fax
mellowed and developed a great relationship with Connell's
daughter, who would take Fax for walks after school. Fax
stayed true to his German roots. He was imported from
Germany and all of his commands were in German. Connell had
to learn the commands like "platz," which means "lie down."
Connell, who retired Fax when he was promoted to sergeant in
2008, said being a K-9 officer was the highlight of his
career.
"No
doubt, if you're deployed, you're getting something good.
The adrenaline was always going," he said. Sam and Fax paved
the way to keep the K-9 program in the Police Department
going. Officer Corey Peladeau now handles two dogs, Misty
and Beny, a patrol dog. "I got home safely to my family
every time I got deployed because of these dogs," Connell
said.
submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA
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Memorials
to Fallen K-9s