Died – 6\/18\/16
\nHandler – Cpl. David Berrios<\/p>\n
K-9 Officer Wombat laid to rest <\/p>\n
A somber funeral procession led by a line of Woodward Police cars made its way slowly through the streets of Woodward Friday. The procession included local leaders of Woodward and many citizens all gathered, some coming to attention in the streets as it passed, to honor Woodward K-9 Police Officer Wombat, who tragically died last week. Officer Wombat\u2019s handler, Woodward police officer Cpl. David Berrios was touched by the level of respect the community demonstratedon the day of Officer Wombat\u2019s funeral. \u201cI think Chief Ellis and the City of Woodward has done a great thing,\u201d Berrios said. \u201cIt is remarkable that they have been willing to show that Wombat was not just a tool but was a police officer who was worthy of recognition.\u201d The procession for Officer Wombat began at Billings Funeral Home where he ws prepared for interment. The proession then wound its way through the streets of Woodward to property near the Woodward Animal Control headquarters.The burial ceremony took place at a location near Woodward Animal Control where the city has planned a K-9 officer memorial wall, said Animal Control Officer Oscar Ayala. \u201cHonestly I think it is a good idea. They should have a service. The dog is like one of our officers. He was our friend. He served the City of Woodward just like we do.\u201d Pastor Beau Hague officiated and Woodward Police Chaplain Donetta Hunter offered the invocation. Officer Wombat died on Saturday, June 18th from a sadly common problem with large dogs, a twisted intestine. \u201cIt was about a quarter to 8 a.m. and I went out to his kennel to load up to go on duty and I found him,\u201d Berrios said. \u201cI\u2008lost it. I broke down and then I called the Chief (Paul Ellis) and Deputy Chief (Chuck Wheeler). They came to the scene and we had the detectives come process the scene to make sure there was no foul play invovled in his death.\u201d Berrios and the department heads then took the officer to Veterinarian Dr. Marvin Reidlinger of Woodward Animal Hospital. After performing an autopsy on Wombat, Reidlinger issued the official cause of death. Officer Wombat was a German Shepherd who began his life and training, not surprisingly in Belgium, according to Berrios. His missions centered around drug interdiction and tracking after he came to Woodward. Although Wombat did have what is called \u201cbite training\u201d or apprehension training.\u201cHe received training there (in Belgium) before he ever came to the United States,\u201d Berrios said. \u201cHe even has his own passport and everything.\u201d Wombat finished his training in August of 2013 at Texoma Training Center where Trainer Bill Jenkins worked together with Barrios to make the pair a team. And on the face of it, that didn\u2019t look easy, Barrios said. \u201cFrom the start, when I went to Texoma, Bill told me, \u2018Get ready because this dog can really be (difficult),\u2019,\u201d Barrios said. \u201cBut him and I, we got an understanding and after that he was my dog.\u201d Officer Wombat has been credited with the discovery of thousands of dollars in drugs and he has been instrumental in locating children who have been lost locally as well as the apprehension of a fugitive from justice. \u201cHe has had multiple drug finds. The third week he was here, he had already found $29,860 in drugs,\u201d Barrios said. \u201cHe has also been implemented in finding a couple missing children, and I mean within minutes of their disappearances. The last one was over in East Hanks Traill. The child had been gone for 30 minutes. I got the child\u2019s clothing and Wombat tracked him right from where we were to just under the house where he was hiding.\u201d For Woodward Police Chief Paul Ellis, this was his favorite story about Wombat, which he relayed in his eulogy of the dog on Friday. Woodward Police officers, city leaders and local residents all said they would miss Wombat and his exuberance and passion for the work he did.\u201cWe really appreciated Wombat. He has done a lot for us and he will be greatly missed,\u201d said Woodward Police Department Spokesman, Don Mitchell. \u201cWe also appreciate what everyone, the Department and the City is doing to honor this officer.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Died – 6\/18\/16 Handler – Cpl. David Berrios K-9 Officer Wombat laid to rest A somber funeral procession led by a line of Woodward Police cars made its way slowly through the streets of Woodward Friday. The procession included local leaders of Woodward and many citizens all gathered, some coming to attention in the streets …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1753,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[12],"class_list":["post-1751","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-k9memorial","tag-ok"],"yoast_head":"\n