Memorials to Fallen K-9s 
 2005-D
The F.A.S.T. Co. donates sets of memorial cards to all partners 
 I need your help to inform me of such losses.

Dept. addresses available for those who want to send condolences to officers. See below
In Loving Memory of
K-9 DUX
 November 22, 2005

Partner: Deputy Jeff Stutrud
 Marion County Sheriff's Department
Marion County Courthouse
100 High Street, N.E.
Salem, OR 97301
Email: Phone: (503) 588-5094

 ARTICLE 1
Police dog escapes from kennel in southeast Salem
The Sheriff's office hopes someone sees Dux and calls deputies - Statesman Journal November 23, 2005
A Marion County sheriff's dog escaped from a private kennel Tuesday after pulling apart a chain-link fence on his kennel door and going through a small hole in a pole barn, officials said. Dux, a police-trained German shepherd, disappeared between 3 and 7:30 a.m. from Pet Village, 3185 Turner Road SE in Salem, Deputy Kevin Rau said. He may have been injured when he pulled apart a chain-link fence. A small amount of blood was found near his kennel.It does not appear that he was deliberately removed, Rau said. "These dogs can be pretty creative," he said.  Dux (pronounced Dukes) is one of six police dogs the sheriff's office has. He is 7 years old and is trained to do patrol work and narcotics detection. Although some police dogs retire when they're as young as 5, others can work at 10. Dux was in perfect health and doing a good job, Rau said. He has no distinctive markings and was not wearing a collar. The kennel staff members take the  collars off so they don't get caught on the chain-link fence, Rau said. For more than 20 years, Pet Village has been where the sheriff's office dogs are trained, Rau said. A trained dog such as Dux costs $10,000. The sheriff's office dogs are kenneled at Pet Village when their handlers are away.  Dux's handler, Deputy Jeff Stutrud, dropped him off at the kennel about 8:30 p.m. Monday. A kennel employee last saw Dux about 3 a.m. Tuesday.  Searchers from the kennel have been canvassing the area around the kennel since this morning, Rau said. Kennel officials could not be reached for comment.  Officials worry that Dux could have been picked up by a stranger. "That is a concern, that somebody would open the door (of a car) and say 'get in,'" Rau said. "The dog might just get in."
***********
ARTICLE 2
Update: Police Dog Found Dead After Escaping From Kennel - Kennel Used By County For 20 Years  - 11/23/05
 SALEM, Ore. -- The Marion County Sheriff's Department is morning the loss of one of their own after the body of a missing police dog was found on Wednesday.  Dux, a K-9 deputy, had been staying at a Salem kennel often used by the department when he escaped after chewing though his kennel, breaking a steel door and hopping over four fences on Tuesday. The canine's body was found by workers near a railroad. It is believed he was hit by a train.  Dux's handler is on vacation and it is thought that the dog escaped in an attempt to get to his handler.  The kennel he was staying at has been used by the county for 20 years.

In Loving Memory of
K-9 DUTCH
 October 12, 2005

Partner: Deputy John Krontz
Adams County Sheriff's Office
500 W. 4th St.
Hastings, NE  68901
402-461.7181

K-9 Dutch had to be put down on 10/12/05 due to illness. He was 13 years old and still on active duty for the Adams County Sheriffs Office in Hastings NE. His one and only Handler was Deputy John Krontz. Dutch is a Holland Herder and the second K-9 for the ACSO. Dutch was a dual purpose K-9 with many accomplishments to his record. More data to come................

submitted by Ed Burmood, pres. NAPCA

In Loving Memory of
K-9 DUKE
 October 6, 2005

Partner: Officer Darrin J. Lahr
Austin Police Department
715 E 8th St
PO Box 689001
Austin, TX 78701-9001
(512) 974-5000 - (512) 974-5088

Austin police said good-bye to one of their own on Friday.     
Duke, a retired K-9 German Shepherd, was put to sleep Thursday because of health problems. During his career police say Duke was responsible for capturing 115 criminals, including one suspect who was sought for murdering a federal agent. Officers who worked with Duke shared fond memories of him. “Dogs are a part of our family. We live with them and take them home with us, they ride in the boat with us, they ride in the car with us, they're very close to us. So that's why we asked you guys to come because we kind of lost one of our family members,” Officer Sheldon Salisbury said. Duke was born in Czechoslovakia in 1994 and was donated to APD in 1996. They said he loved to swim in the lake and play with children.  Duke is a male German Shepherd who served in APD's K-9 Patrol from 1996 through 2000.  Originally from Czechoslovakia, he was donated to APD by Bill Milburn in 1996.  He had two handlers: Sgt. Carl Pardinek from 1996-1997 and Officer DJ Lahr from 1998-2000.  He was an excellent patrol canine and possessed all of the qualities K-9 Patrol looks for in a police dog.  During Duke's career, he captured 115 criminals, including four suspects for attempted murder, 12 armed robbery suspects, 16 weapon offenses, 14 auto thieves, and nine burglars.  One of Duke's most memorable arrests was when he apprehended a suspect sought by the U.S. Secret Service for attempted capital murder of a federal agent.  The suspect had evaded officers on foot in the area of East 12th Street. After K-9 was summoned, Officer Lahr and Duke found the suspect hiding under a car at a residence in the area and successfully apprehended the suspect. Duke attended numerous public events, including the Texas Police Olympics, Austin Citizen's Police Academy programs, and DARE graduations.  Because of his even temperament, Duke also participated in many demonstrations to educate the public on the important contributions made by K-9 police officers. After being diagnosed with a degenerative hip and spine disease, he retired to a home on the lake where he lived with another Austin police officer, Sheldon Salsbury, who was devoted to him.  Duke loved to swim in the lake, play with the neighborhood children, and terrorize the local cats.  Duke's original prognosis was dire, but years of swimming in the lake is credited with extending his life by many years. Officer Lahr took Duke on a final police patrol ride in a K-9 truck escorted by Officer Sheldon in a patrol car, both with flashing lights and sirens.  Officer Salsbury and his former handler, Officer Lahr, attended Duke in his final moments on October 6, 2005.  A ceremony honoring Duke was held at Austin police headquarters on October 7, 2005 at 10:30 AM.  submitted by Jim Cortina, DIR, CPWDA & Dusty Simon
 MORE:
After an eventful life, roughly 84 dog years, Duke was honored for his career as an APD K-9 unit dog after he died Thursday from health problems. Duke was born halfway across the world in Prague, when the Czech Republic was still Czechoslovakia, in 1994 and donated to APD in 1996 when he was 18 months old. "I trained Duke from the ground up," said Lt. Carl Pardinek, who was a sergeant over the K-9 unit at the time. Pardinek said he took Duke to the Texas Police Olympics after only six months of training. Duke took home two medals. "He got second place in agility, which was unusual because he was the biggest dog at the Police Olympics," Pardinek said. Duke also received a medal for third place in criminal apprehension, which was impressive for his age and training, he said. Pardinek described Duke as calm and courageous, which he said are the exact characteristics a K-9 dog needs. Pardinek said sometimes K-9s have to fight, but they also need to be around people, including children. "Duke was very sociable. He could turn it on and off," he said. Pardinek said he could take Duke out to catch an armed robbery suspect one night, and then take him to an elementary school the next morning to teach kids about the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program. "It was unusual for a dog to have such a high hunt drive, to be so tough, and still like to be petted and loved on," Pardinek said Eventually, Duke was partnered with another officer, DJ Lahr, for about three years before he had to be retired because of hip problems. In his five years as a K-9 officer, Duke was responsible for capturing 115 criminals, according to an APD written statement. Those arrests included suspects in four attempted murders, 12 armed robberies, 16 weapon offenses, 14 car thieves and nine burglars, APD said. One of Duke's most memorable arrests, according to APD, was a man wanted by the Secret Service for attempted murder of a federal agent. The man got away from officers on foot but Duke found him hiding underneath a car in a local neighborhood. Upon retirement, K-9 dogs usually go to live with their handler or another officer. Because they're trained to bite and apprehend criminals, it would be a liability to give him to a private family," Pardenik said. In Duke's case, Lahr, his last handler, would have taken him home but he had another "alpha male" dog, according APD Officer Sheldon Salisbury."The fighting between the dogs was too vicious," he said. Salisbury said he quickly stepped up to take Duke home. I quickly volunteered, because I had just recently lost a dog," Salisbury said. During his retirement, Duke spent his time at Salisbury's lake house swimming in the lake and playing with children

In Loving Memory of
 K-9 DRAKE
 June 24, 2005

 Partner: Officer Jonathan Courtwright
Danville Police Department
  410 W. Main St.
   Danville, KY 40422

Danville drug canine dies - Heart Attack  
The career of Drake, one of two yellow Labs employed by the Danville Police Department to detect drugs, came to an untimely end Friday when the animal keeled over while playing fetch with his handler, Officer Jonathan Courtwright.  Drake, 4, collapsed while playing with Courtwright, who was off duty at the time. The dog was taken to Heartland Veterinary Clinic, where he later died. Veterinarian Chuck Keiser told police that he suspected Drake succumbed to a heart attack caused by a heart defect. Drake came to the department late last year from a certified training center in Florida, along with another drug dog, Buck, who survives. The city paid about $6,000 for the two dogs, with Drake being added as a bonus after he was returned to the center by a Florida law enforcement agency that didn't have time to spend with the dog. The two canines had been working cases in Danville since February. 
submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA
 
In Loving Memory of
K-9 DUX
 November 22, 2005

Partner: Deputy Jeff Stutrud
 Marion County Sheriff's Department
Marion County Courthouse
100 High Street, N.E.
Salem, OR 97301
Email: Phone: (503) 588-5094

 ARTICLE 1
Police dog escapes from kennel in southeast Salem
The Sheriff's office hopes someone sees Dux and calls deputies - Statesman Journal November 23, 2005
A Marion County sheriff's dog escaped from a private kennel Tuesday after pulling apart a chain-link fence on his kennel door and going through a small hole in a pole barn, officials said.Dux, a police-trained German shepherd, disappeared between 3 and 7:30 a.m. from Pet Village, 3185 Turner Road SE in Salem, Deputy Kevin Rau said. He may have been injured when he pulled apart a chain-link fence. A small amount of blood was found near his kennel.It does not appear that he was deliberately removed, Rau said. "These dogs can be pretty creative," he said.  Dux (pronounced Dukes) is one of six police dogs the sheriff's office has. He is 7 years old and is trained to do patrol work and narcotics detection. Although some police dogs retire when they're as young as 5, others can work at 10. Dux was in perfect health and doing a good job, Rau said. He has no distinctive markings and was not wearing a collar. The kennel staff members take the  collars off so they don't get caught on the chain-link fence, Rau said. For more than 20 years, Pet Village has been where the sheriff's office dogs are trained, Rau said. A trained dog such as Dux costs $10,000. The sheriff's office dogs are kenneled at Pet Village when their handlers are away.  Dux's handler, Deputy Jeff Stutrud, dropped him off at the kennel about 8:30 p.m. Monday. A kennel employee last saw Dux about 3 a.m. Tuesday.  Searchers from the kennel have been canvassing the area around the kennel since this morning, Rau said. Kennel officials could not be reached for comment.  Officials worry that Dux could have been picked up by a stranger. "That is a concern, that somebody would open the door (of a car) and say 'get in,'" Rau said. "The dog might just get in."
***********
ARTICLE 2
Update: Police Dog Found Dead After Escaping From Kennel - Kennel Used By County For 20 Years  - 11/23/05
 SALEM, Ore. -- The Marion County Sheriff's Department is morning the loss of one of their own after the body of a missing police dog was found on Wednesday.  Dux, a K-9 deputy, had been staying at a Salem kennel often used by the department when he escaped after chewing though his kennel, breaking a steel door and hopping over four fences on Tuesday. The canine's body was found by workers near a railroad. It is believed he was hit by a train.  Dux's handler is on vacation and it is thought that the dog escaped in an attempt to get to his handler.  The kennel he was staying at has been used by the county for 20 years.

In Loving Memory of
K-9 DUTCH
 October 12, 2005

Partner: Deputy John Krontz
Adams County Sheriff's Office
500 W. 4th St.
Hastings, NE  68901
402-461.7181

K-9 Dutch had to be put down on 10/12/05 due to illness. He was 13 years old and still on active duty for the Adams County Sheriffs Office in Hastings NE. His one and only Handler was Deputy John Krontz. Dutch is a Holland Herder and the second K-9 for the ACSO. Dutch was a dual purpose K-9 with many accomplishments to his record. More data to come................

submitted by Ed Burmood, pres. NAPCA

In Loving Memory of
K-9 DUKE
 October 6, 2005

Partner: Officer Darrin J. Lahr
Austin Police Department
715 E 8th St
PO Box 689001
Austin, TX 78701-9001
(512) 974-5000 - (512) 974-5088

Austin police said good-bye to one of their own on Friday.     
Duke, a retired K-9 German Shepherd, was put to sleep Thursday because of health problems. During his career police say Duke was responsible for capturing 115 criminals, including one suspect who was sought for murdering a federal agent. Officers who worked with Duke shared fond memories of him. “Dogs are a part of our family. We live with them and take them home with us, they ride in the boat with us, they ride in the car with us, they're very close to us. So that's why we asked you guys to come because we kind of lost one of our family members,” Officer Sheldon Salisbury said. Duke was born in Czechoslovakia in 1994 and was donated to APD in 1996. They said he loved to swim in the lake and play with children.  Duke is a male German Shepherd who served in APD's K-9 Patrol from 1996 through 2000.  Originally from Czechoslovakia, he was donated to APD by Bill Milburn in 1996.  He had two handlers: Sgt. Carl Pardinek from 1996-1997 and Officer DJ Lahr from 1998-2000.  He was an excellent patrol canine and possessed all of the qualities K-9 Patrol looks for in a police dog.  During Duke's career, he captured 115 criminals, including four suspects for attempted murder, 12 armed robbery suspects, 16 weapon offenses, 14 auto thieves, and nine burglars.  One of Duke's most memorable arrests was when he apprehended a suspect sought by the U.S. Secret Service for attempted capital murder of a federal agent.  The suspect had evaded officers on foot in the area of East 12th Street. After K-9 was summoned, Officer Lahr and Duke found the suspect hiding under a car at a residence in the area and successfully apprehended the suspect. Duke attended numerous public events, including the Texas Police Olympics, Austin Citizen's Police Academy programs, and DARE graduations.  Because of his even temperament, Duke also participated in many demonstrations to educate the public on the important contributions made by K-9 police officers. After being diagnosed with a degenerative hip and spine disease, he retired to a home on the lake where he lived with another Austin police officer, Sheldon Salsbury, who was devoted to him.  Duke loved to swim in the lake, play with the neighborhood children, and terrorize the local cats.  Duke's original prognosis was dire, but years of swimming in the lake is credited with extending his life by many years. Officer Lahr took Duke on a final police patrol ride in a K-9 truck escorted by Officer Sheldon in a patrol car, both with flashing lights and sirens.  Officer Salsbury and his former handler, Officer Lahr, attended Duke in his final moments on October 6, 2005.  A ceremony honoring Duke was held at Austin police headquarters on October 7, 2005 at 10:30 AM.  s
ubmitted by Jim Cortina, DIR, CPWDA & Dusty Simon
 MORE:
After an eventful life, roughly 84 dog years, Duke was honored for his career as an APD K-9 unit dog after he died Thursday from health problems. Duke was born halfway across the world in Prague, when the Czech Republic was still Czechoslovakia, in 1994 and donated to APD in 1996 when he was 18 months old. "I trained Duke from the ground up," said Lt. Carl Pardinek, who was a sergeant over the K-9 unit at the time. Pardinek said he took Duke to the Texas Police Olympics after only six months of training. Duke took home two medals. "He got second place in agility, which was unusual because he was the biggest dog at the Police Olympics," Pardinek said. Duke also received a medal for third place in criminal apprehension, which was impressive for his age and training, he said. Pardinek described Duke as calm and courageous, which he said are the exact characteristics a K-9 dog needs. Pardinek said sometimes K-9s have to fight, but they also need to be around people, including children. "Duke was very sociable. He could turn it on and off," he said. Pardinek said he could take Duke out to catch an armed robbery suspect one night, and then take him to an elementary school the next morning to teach kids about the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program. "It was unusual for a dog to have such a high hunt drive, to be so tough, and still like to be petted and loved on," Pardinek said Eventually, Duke was partnered with another officer, DJ Lahr, for about three years before he had to be retired because of hip problems. In his five years as a K-9 officer, Duke was responsible for capturing 115 criminals, according to an APD written statement. Those arrests included suspects in four attempted murders, 12 armed robberies, 16 weapon offenses, 14 car thieves and nine burglars, APD said. One of Duke's most memorable arrests, according to APD, was a man wanted by the Secret Service for attempted murder of a federal agent. The man got away from officers on foot but Duke found him hiding underneath a car in a local neighborhood. Upon retirement, K-9 dogs usually go to live with their handler or another officer. Because they're trained to bite and apprehend criminals, it would be a liability to give him to a private family," Pardenik said. In Duke's case, Lahr, his last handler, would have taken him home but he had another "alpha male" dog, according APD Officer Sheldon Salisbury."The fighting between the dogs was too vicious," he said. Salisbury said he quickly stepped up to take Duke home. I quickly volunteered, because I had just recently lost a dog," Salisbury said. During his retirement, Duke spent his time at Salisbury's lake house swimming in the lake and playing with children

In Loving Memory of
 K-9 DRAKE
 June 24, 2005

 Partner: Officer Jonathan Courtwright
Danville Police Department
  410 W. Main St.
   Danville, KY 40422

Danville drug canine dies - Heart Attack  
The career of Drake, one of two yellow Labs employed by the Danville Police Department to detect drugs, came to an untimely end Friday when the animal keeled over while playing fetch with his handler, Officer Jonathan Courtwright.  Drake, 4, collapsed while playing with Courtwright, who was off duty at the time. The dog was taken to Heartland Veterinary Clinic, where he later died. Veterinarian Chuck Keiser told police that he suspected Drake succumbed to a heart attack caused by a heart defect. Drake came to the department late last year from a certified training center in Florida, along with another drug dog, Buck, who survives. The city paid about $6,000 for the two dogs, with Drake being added as a bonus after he was returned to the center by a Florida law enforcement agency that didn't have time to spend with the dog. The two canines had been working cases in Danville since February. 
 submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA
 

In Loving Memory of
 K-9 DRAKE
 May 2005
Partner ?
Winston Salem Police Department
725 N. Cherry St.
Winston Salem, NC 27101
336 773.7700

YADKINVILLE - A Winston-Salem police detective found his missing police dog dead yesterday on Falcon Road, not far from his home near Yadkinville.  Police had been searching since May 11 for Drake, a Czechoslovakian shepherd, that broke out of its kennel the night of May 10 during a storm. The dog was apparently scared by the storm and hit the cage door so hard that it moved a latch and opened the door, police Capt. David Clayton said.  A vehicle hit the dog, and it appeared to have been dead for several days.  "It's a sad day over here. Everybody liked the dog. He had a good work ethic and was real friendly," he said.  The department had the dog for five years. It was trained to find drugs.  
submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA

In Loving Memory of
K-9 DAKOTA
 1992 - February 13, 2005

 Partner:  Amyjo Beley
 K9  Recovery  -  OHIO

Protecting from Above…….K-9  Dakota
          
“So that others may Live…”
2:35 Pm. Sunday, 13 Feb 2005
K9 Dakota crossed over the Rainbow Bridge.
With his Mom ,(amyjo) holding and talking to him.
Go Dance my man!
Amyjo
 *****************
"After dog understood…then GOD turned to man and said,
 "Behold, this is your partner.
You shall worship him as he worships you.
It is your duty to be kind to this gentle beast
 and know that in his mute way, he loves you.
 
Your purpose is to care for him,
through youth and age, until he can serve no more.
Understand that your final act of love will take courage.
Spare your partner any pain.
Save his dignity. Know that he will never lie to you,
he will always understand you
and that his love will be blind.
 
You are commanded to use him in service to mankind.
I have placed him here as a guardian angel for you,
to watch over you and care for you.
He is from heaven, therefore divine.
Let his character speak to your heart and be
he example for you to follow.
He shall fulfill your inequities.
He shall be everything humanity strives to be: Honest,
Loyal, Kind in Heart, and Strong in Spirit.
 

Therefore, you shall call him PARTNER and best friend."

 Your soulful Partner,

Amyjo Beley

*************************************

I was not even looking for a dog at the time I got him. He picked me. I was at a Shep kennel looking for a shep pup, for a client (I worked on the side training dogs). Dakota was in a pen with 3 other pups. Dakota was 4 months at the time and had just arrived into state. Anyway, Each time I came out of a whelping "house" (4 in all) there he would sit for me. He did not go up to the Kennel-master or my friend , only me, each time. Helga (yes, Helga from Germany) would put Dak back into the puppy pen each time. At the last whelping house I watched out the window, and Dakota was ignoring the other pups, not playing with them. He scaled a 6 ft chain link fence, nose dived off the top and ran up the last whelping house. I came out and he just BEAMED with pride and looked me straight in the eye. As if to say, "Look Lady, I am yours and your mine. Lets go home!" Even as a Pup, he had the most soulful eyes I have ever seen in a dog. "Old Eyes. "Needless to say, I had to drive to the bank and make a hefty withdraw! In a few hours, pink papers in hand I placed Dakota up front with me in the truck. A few miles down the road he promptly threw up in my lap. LOL <>That's how I got my old man. Yesterday, as we sat in front of the fireplace awaiting the end. I held his head and looked into his eyes. "Hey old Man, I love you and will always love you. I want to thank you for being with me. Your such a good man!" I said these words over and over. And in my mind was recalling the Day, Dakota picked me at the kennel in Lancaster, PA. 12 1/2 yrs ago. Dakota and I danced our last Dance together..............
***********
   Examples of K-9 Dakota's work:
On the night of June 28,1998 I received a call about a missing 5 year old in the next county away. For the last 12+ hours we had been hit by severe Thunder storms and sneaky pop-up Tornados. Flooding was taking away parts of small towns, blocking roads and endangering lives. The fear was this missing girl may have become a victim of nature. At approximately 2300 hrs I arrived on scene; Baker St., New Philadelphia. Briefing had informed me of the needed information of our missing child; a one 5 year old Devan Duniver. Dakota was started on her trail, giving us an idea of stopping points and possible visitations to the neighborhood, as well as, confirming her presence at certain sites. Unfortunately, Devan was located, in a cluster of trees, shrubs and vines @ approximately 0740. Deceased. This case went to trail and received National attention, on the basis of "Kids killing Kids" featured on 20/20 and other newscasts. Suspect 12 years old Anthony Harris was charged and convicted with the stabbing of Devan. Who would of though that the dog, that picked me, would have been an important part in a nationally covered case. 
 
On the night of June 28,1998 I received a call about a missing 5 yr old in the next county away. For the last 12+ hours we had been hit by severe Thunder storms and sneaky pop-up Tornados. Flooding was taking away parts of small towns, blocking roads and endangering lives. The fear was this missing girl may have become a victim of nature. At approximately 2300hrs I arrived on scene; Baker St., New Philadelphia. Briefing had informed me of the needed information of our missing child; a one 5 yr old Devan Duniver. Dakota was started on her trail, giving us an idea of stopping points and possible visitations to the neighborhood, as well as , confirming her presence at certain sites. Unfortunately, Devan was located, in a cluster of trees, shrubs and vines @ approx.0740. Deceased. This case went to trail and received National attention, on the basis of "Kids killing Kids" featured on 20/20 and other newscasts. Suspect 12yr old Anthony Harris was charged and convicted with the stabbing of Devan. Who would of though that the dog, that picked me, would have been an important part in a nationally covered case.   Amyjo
In Loving Memory of
K-9 DJARKO
June 2, 2005

Partner: Officer Daniel Jabens
Cedar Rapids Police Dept.
 505 First St SW
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52404

K9 Djarko had necrosis of the stomach which developed over a long period time. Not sure what caused it and I don’t have a more official answer. He was a member of our department and with officer Jabens for almost 7 years.  Officer Jabens and Djarko were involved in some of the largest narcotics seizures in Cedar Rapids’ history.   
Lt. Steve M. O'Konek - Special Operations Commander  -  & submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA    thanks for your help.

In Loving Memory of
K-9 DRAGO
 October 2005

Partner: Officer Ernest Wolosewicz
Long Beach CA K9 Division
100 Long Beach Blvd.
 Long Beach, CA 90802
562 570.7260

“DRAGO”
5 Year-Old Belgium Malinois
Dark and Light Brown Coloring
Short Hair Floppy Ears

 K-9 officers said the public response following the dogs' deaths was overwhelming. "It was more than we ever imagined," said Long Beach K-9 Officer Joe Valenzuela, whose partner Winston will work alongside Knight in the future.  It rejuvenated us to go out there and do our job knowing that there are so many people who support us. You forget that sometimes and can get a little jaded dealing with bad guys everyday." Drago's replacement will be purchased in the next week or two, with training to begin shortly after. Knight, currently training at the Long Beach Police Academy, is expected to start patrolling the streets before the end of the year. His regimen includes running around on outdoor obstacle courses and through abandoned buildings in search of a hidden suspect. The canine's extraordinary olfactory system allows him to locate bad guys with relative ease — whether they're in a closet, attic, under a porch, in a shed or stowed away in a container or trunk somewhere. Parcells and the other trainers are honing those skills now, teaching Knight to bark loudly when he hits his mark, and if a suspect moves, sink his sharp canine teeth into the perpetrator's arm or leg. "Biting is their reward for a successful find," Parcells explains. "They live for that."  Parcells also plans to cross-train Knight for narcotics detection work, something Ranger never did. While the eight officers who comprise the K-9 unit are moving forward since Ranger and Drago's unexpected deaths, the transition hasn't been without its difficulties.