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Died 10/26/15
Handler- Marshal Joe Talkington
Late Westport K-9 remembered
Watchful protector. Dedicated community servant. Fearless partner and friend. Keno, a Westport Town Marshals K-9, was all of those things – and so much more – to his handlers and the community he served. When Keno died unexpectedly in late October, he left behind a legacy of high quality police work for two different county law enforcement agencies as well as a long list of fellow officers, friends and admirers who mourned the dog’s passing as much as they celebrated his impact on a program that has proven itself vital, time and again, in substance abuse prevention efforts. In the weeks since Keno’s passing, a new dog has stepped up to fill the sizable void left behind by the gentle-yet-fiercely-loyal German shepherd. Darco, a Belgian malinois, has been on the job since early November and is already making an impact on county law enforcement, Westport Town Marshal Joe Talkington, the handler of Keno still mourning the loss of Keno, Talkington said the kindness shown by the Westport community – and Decatur County as a whole – has bolstered his resolve in the program. The Westport Marshal said he has utilized that support and the emotional experience of losing his K-9 partner as further motivation. Whereas Keno enjoyed the adulation often shown to him by fellow officers, community members and children present for K-9 program demonstrations, Keno was mature and he knew if there was danger. He could read people.” Keno, who began his career with the Decatur County Sheriff’s Department in 2009, died unexpectedly of a stomach ailment the morning of Oct. 26. In the wake of that sad news, Talkington said the Westport community offered an outpouring of support. Cards and letters poured into the Westport Police station, many from children who recalled seeing Keno at K-9 demonstrations at their school. The support, for Talkington, has been overwhelming. It’s also stood as a reminder to him of the program’s importance in the Decatur County community. “It’s touching,” Talkington said Tuesday. “It makes it all worth the while and makes you want to continue the program when you have positive comments.” Comments came from past handlers of Keno soon after the canine’s death, all of whom lauded the dog. Talkington purchased Keno from the sheriff’s department, and the two began patrolling together in late summer 2013. Prior to that, Keno worked with three different deputies in the DCSD. Outside of his police duties, Keno was routinely met with adoration throughout the community, Talkington said. And the feeling was mutual. “Keno loved everybody,” Talkington said. “He was well known all over the county and it’s always a joy to have people come up and tell their stories about him.” The German shepherd had quite an appetite and could also be playfully mischievous. “He was an eater,” Talkington said with a laugh. The marshal recalled a humorous story where Keno playfully unstacked wood the marshal had just finished chopping. “He’d go over and lay by the [wood] pile,” Talkington said. “Then he’d carry it off every time I got it stacked. “It was a lot of work. He wanted to play.” In spite of that inopportune bit of playfulness, Talkington said Keno was highly disciplined – at home and on duty. The marshal believes the dog’s impact and the community’s support in the aftermath of his death, speak to the importance of the program and the need for it to continue. Talkington said he is grateful for the community’s help, the sheriff department’s assistance, and the support of other officers and K-9 handlers. “It’s a family of K-9 handlers and supporters that makes it all worthwhile,” the town marshal said
