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Died – 4/30/17
Handler – Officer Vanja Mikelic
Poughkeepsie Police Mourn Passing of K9 Reagan
The Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department regretfully announces the passing of K-9 Reagan on April 30, 2017. K-9 Reagan was an 11 year-old German Shepard, who spent her eight year career with Police Officer Vanja Mikelic, according to Chief of Police Ron J. Spero Jr. Officer Mikelic and K-9 Reagan completed Basic Patrol School in November of 2007 and Narcotics Detection in March of 2008. In both 2009 and 2010, the team earned certification from the North American Police Work Dog Association and the National Narcotics Detector Dog Association in both patrol and narcotics detection.
In 2011, they earned certification from the Eastern Police Canine Association (EPCA) in Patrol and Street Ready Patrol Dog and Patrol Narcotics Dog Level 1. K-9 Reagan was also one of five dogs, over a 22-year period and over 200 teams competing, that earned the EPCA Tracking Title. This title is considered one of the most difficult tracking tests given anywhere in the world by any K-9 organization. In 2012, Officer Mikelic and K-9 Reagan earned the advanced titles of Certified Police Dog Level 1, and Patrol Narcotics Dog Level 2. Most recently in 2013, K-9 Reagan earned the most advanced patrol dog title in the country, EPCA’s certified Police Dog Level 2. Twenty-six K-9 teams in the Northeast vied for this level of certification, and they were one of two teams that received the high standard for certification. K-9 Reagan retired from active duty in 2015. During K-9 Reagan’s career with Officer Mikelic, she recovered over 20 pounds of illegal narcotics, 99 pieces of evidence, which included four guns, and tracked and located 32 criminal suspects. In addition to all her years of service as a “Police K-9” doing basic Police functions, she had been the showpiece at over 100 K-9 Demonstrations for many community groups, schools, and churches. Chief Spero said, “K-9 Reagan passed away at home with her partner, Officer Mikelic, and the rest of the loving Mikelic family. She will be missed terribly by the Mikelic family and friends, as well as all the members of the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department, and the entire community that had the pleasure of her many years of service.”
