In Loving Memory of
K-9 KELLY
September 16, 2003

Handler: CPL Christopher Boujoukos
Suffolk County Sheriff's Department
  20 Bradston Street
 Boston, MA  02118
 

From the time I first met my husband, all he ever wanted was to be a K-9 Officer.  He finally was granted his wish about 3 years ago.  He received a great Czech shepherd named Kelly.  Kelly was a moody and miserable dog at first, who only enjoyed my husband's company.  After a while, though, he started to love our whole family.  I couldn't believe the transformation in this animal.  My husband enjoyed his job greatly and most of all, loved Kelly.  Kelly finally got his first big drug hit which was 2 1/2 pounds of marijuana just a few short months before he died.  He had bloat, and because of complications of his surgery, he died in September, 2003.  I was so unsure of how to deal with my husband's and my own loss.  I wrote a poem for my husband this year at Christmas time, and had it made into a plaque for him.   My husband's name is Christopher Boujoukos.  He is a Corporal with the Suffolk County Sheriff's Department in Boston, Massachusetts.  I have attached an excellent photo of my husband and Kelly that was taken shortly before his death at a demonstration for some inner city kids in Boston.

 
DON’T CRY FOR ME (A tribute to K-9 Kelly)
Don’t cry for me, because I’m still here
Sometimes I whisper that in your ear.
A K-9 partner for you, a friend for me
What a match we had begun to be.
So many times with you I’ll never forget
You made me a Deputy and also a pet.
I worked hard for you all the while
Nose to the ground, tracking for miles.
I wore my badge with a sense of pride
Waiting to find the perfect hide.
A love for the job through and through
I would’ve laid down my life for you.
Training together day after day
Work for you, for me just play.
I was invincible with you at my side
A strong personality I couldn’t hide.
The sickness that took me, I tried to fight
Who would ride with my partner at night?
I’m sorry to leave you and take a final fall
You tried to save me, you gave it your all.
Don’t cry for me, because I still roam
It was just my time, God called me home.
                            Author:  Jennifer Boujoukos

---

In Loving Memory of
K-9 KEEYA August 11, 2003 Handler: Deputy Terry Boltjes Mille Lacs County Sheriff's Department 640 3rd Street SE Milaca, MN 56353
Times photos by Dawn Slade Keeya waits patiently for instructions from his handler. 
The photo was taken a few days before he was put to rest. submitted by reporter, Dawn Slade, TIMES
  K-9 Keeya is gone, but his service to the community will not soon be forgotten.  The eight-and-a-half-year-old German shepherd was put down on Monday, July 7 due to a spinal disease known as lumbosacral stenos is (a fairly common acquired or congenital problem in shepherds that deadens the nerves to the hind legs). The Mille Lacs County Sheriff's Department had an excellent K-9 for seven years, who helped put away quite a few criminals.  He sniffed out drugs, stopped bad guys from fleeing police, and tracked down missing persons.  Keeya's track record consisted of 13 criminal apprehensions, 12 criminal apprehensions through presence, numerous suspect tracks and building searches, dozens of narcotic finds and well over a dozen felony drug arrests.  Leroy Lassard was Keeya's original  trainer and handler. He began working with the dog when Keeya was just 14 months old, then passed the dog on to deputy Terry Boltjes in 2001 before Lassard retired from the force. Sheriff Brent Lindgren praised both Leroy and Terry for their work with Keeya.  "That's what made Keeya such a successful part of the K-9 program," he said of the handlers.  And though the bad guys may not have pleasant memories of the police dog,  Keeya was known to many in the community as a lovable shepherd who enjoyed being praised and having people scratch him behind his years. So many children in the community were touched by Keeya during demonstrations.  I saw kids watch with delight as Keeya showed off his talent for sniffing out drugs, "attacking" fellow officers and jumping out of the sheriff's car at the touch of a button when his handler was in need.  And it wasn't just the kids, adults enjoyed seeing him in action as well.  Keeya performed for school children, Cub Scouts, the sheriff's youth camp and D.A.R.E. programs. Keeya was a smart dog. He knew the difference between the good guys and the bad. He could receive lovin' graciously and enthusiastically one minute and the next he'd be barking like crazy as he worked on tearing off a protective sleeve from the trainer's arm. Keeya was going to retire from the force in August and several people inquired as to who would get to keep Keeya in hopes they might get to bring him home. I was one of those people.  But it wasn't really much of a question. Boltjes knew he would continue taking care of Keeya (he wasn't about to let him go). Besides, it's not a good idea for a K-9 to retire with a family unfamiliar with police dogs. "People don't realize, that dog becomes a member of your family," Lindgren said.  In June it was discovered that Keeya had a spinal disease and not hip dysplasia as previously thought. Boltjes could only watch so long as Keeya quickly lost the use of his hind legs. So the decision was made to put the dog down. Keeya will now be cremated and his ashes will be buried at the Boltjes' home. "It's a tough time," Lindgren said, "even though there's a replacement dog, there's still a grieving process." So we must say good-bye to a courageous dog that gave his all to help our community in so many ways. He served us without wanting anything in return. Well...except for maybe a treat now and then and someone to throw a ball or dummy for him. Thanks for everything ,Keeya! 
submitted by reporter, Dawn Slade  

---

In Loving Memory of 
K-9  KATA SAR
July 19, 2003

 Handler, Ron Patterson 
 T.A.S.K.
629 Depot St.
Jacksboro, TX 76458

It is with much sadness that we announce the passing of Ron Patterson's K-9 Kata  on July 19th from renal failure . Kata and Ron had just passed their first Mission Ready  Man trailing Certification on May 24th, 2003 after training for one year. Kata ran a 42 hour old trail  in a contaminated area  to acquire her Mission Ready status. She was the first German shepherd to pass a TASK trailing certification since 1999.  We had been looking forward to good things from Ron and Kata.  Ron  and K-9 Kata had recently attended a seminar in Arkansas as a representative of TASK.  I'll never forget  instructor,  Lee Weatherall telling  the story of asking a team of students if they thought their dog could find a missing runner, Ron was the first to say, "My dog can!" and he meant it!  Kata was all he promised she would be and more. We will truly miss Kata at our Sunday night training's. I've enclosed a photo of Ron and Kata taken by his wife Sue.  Please remember Ron and Sue in your prayers. It is always sad to lose a good dog and even sadder to lose a dear friend. Kata had recently become ill and for the past two weeks she just wasn't herself. Last Sunday she was still at training though, even though you could tell her heart just wasn't in it. Please join me in extending your condolences to Ron and Sue. Ron displays the true heart of a K-9 handler and has opted to start over. He begins a new with three month old black German shepherd, Greta, that he recently purchased from Tofteinhund Shepherds with the help of trainer, Kimberly Watson and training coordinator, Clyde Watson. We wish them well.  Kim and Clyde Watson  TASK

In Loving Memory of
K-9 KODY
Sir Kodiak Bear Von Peine 
June 28, 2003
 
Handler: Sgt. John Peine
Riverdale Police Department
2 Dalton Drive 
Riverdale, NJ  07457 
973. 835-0034

On May 5, 1999, Elsa gave birth to 10 puppies, five boys and five girls. All but two of Kody's pups have moved out and are doing great with their new families. His son Kodiak's Cub "Cubby" and his daughter Kalispell Montana "Kali" live with Kody and their handler Sgt. John Peine and his wife, Dawn. Cubby and Kali have followed in their dad's paw prints and are both Police Dogs. Cubby is certified in narcotics detection and Kali works in search and rescue. Cubby has taken over Kody's day-to-day police work since his pop is now dealing with diabetes. Kali is not utilized as often in day-to-day police work, but did spend some time at the World Trade Center after the 9/11 attacks. Kody seems to get enough satisfaction on training days giving his kids some pointers and still attending community events.

It is with great sadness that the Riverdale, NJ Police Dept announces the death of its first police K-9, Kody. Sgt John Peine and K9 Kody graduated the Passaic County Police K-9 Academy in 1994. Kody served the police department for nine years in Narcotics Detection. Three years ago, he went into semi-retirement after being diagnosed with diabetes. Kody remained active in educating the children in the DARE program about police K-9 and the danger of narcotics. He will be greatly missed by the department and the children of the borough.
A memorial was held July 5 at Riverdale Borough hall, 
91 Newark Pompton Turnpike
Riverdale, NJ
Contact person is Disp. Leaver or Ptlm Quant, 973-835-0034

MORE about KODY
Sir Kodiak Bear Von Peine is his full name. Kody to his friends and Police colleagues. Kody was born in Kinnelon, New Jersey on April 25, 1992. He started training to be a Police Narcotics Dog at 6 weeks of age. He was to be the first Police dog in the history of the Riverdale NJ P.D. Kody received his formal training at the Passaic County Police K-9 Academy under the direction of the Passaic County Sheriff's Department. At 1 ½ years old Kody was certified in Narcotics detection. When he's not fighting crime, Kody appears at local schools, civic events and churches teaching the dangers of Drug Abuse. Kody is a male Rottweiler and weighs in at 150 pounds. In 1998 he met the love of his life, Elsa, is her name. Shortly after meeting Elsa, the couple decided to start a family.   
notified by: New Castle PD, DE dispatcher, Dawn Lanham
***************
K-9 Kody's WEBPAGE:
http://www.riverdalepd.org/

In Loving Memory of
K-9 KAI
July 18, 2003

Handler: TSgt. Doug Rollison former Deputy
Leavenworth County Sheriff Department, Sheriff Department
www.leavenworthcounty.org/
Ph: 913-682-5724 - Fax: 913-684-1027
601 South Third Street
Suite 2077
Leavenworth, KS 66048

  Kai passed away on Friday, July 18th.  He would have been five years old in August.  He is missed terribly.  Even more so now that I know we will never get to see him again.  Kai passed away while Doug is on active duty in the middle east.   Cause?  Illness, possibly due to a broken heart.  Kai was taken from the Rollison family after Doug went on active duty. He served with another handler. His entire life changed; his handler was new, his home wasn't the same, his family wasn't there.  The Rollison family was never the same either.  They didn't visit him, fearing it would make the adjust even more difficult for both.  Doug is a T.Sgt and on his way home, thinking that Kai can return to him on the job and to their family. It will be a mixed emotional home- coming. Kai is the second memorial for Deputy Rollison on this website. He is thinking of giving up the K9 life and looking into another type of work for the department. We wish you well Doug, in whatever you do, whenever you return to civilian life again.

In Loving Memory of 
K-9 KAISER II
June 23, 2003