In Loving Memory of
K-9 HERO
September 1, 1998 ~ May 9, 2007

Handler:  John McNeal
Wasilla Police Department 
1800 E. Parks Hwy.
Wasilla, AK 99654
Phone: (907) 352-5401 - Fax: (907) 357-787
WEBSITE http://www.cityofwasilla.com/police/personnel.asp
submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA

In Loving Memory of
K-9 HERO
July 19, 2007

Handler: Sgt. Kerry August
Rostraver Police Department
205 Port Royal Dr
Belle Vernon, PA 15012-3517
Phone: (724) 929-4111

Rostraver Police mourn loss of Hero
The Rostraver Township Police Department has lost a valued member and a long-time friend. Police Chief Greg Resetar said the outfit's K-9 police dog, Hero,died July 19 from cancer. The loss has left a void at the station, the chief said. "He was working up until the day that he died, basically," Resetar said of the 12-year old German shepherd. "It was very sad. It's definitely a loss for the department. Just his presence was a deterrent at different functions  with crowd control and things of that nature. His presence was well known." Hero had been with the department for 10 years, the longest serving canine in the outfit's history, Resetar said. The canine cop and his handler, Sgt. Kerry August, conducted drug awareness and crime prevention programs at local schools and held many public  demonstrations. Resetar said Hero was embraced by the public. "Sometimes, it's made out to be this vicious animal that's very aggressive," Resetar said of police dogs in general. "The fact of the matter is that he was very docile. He was just great with the kids, but when it was time to work, based on Kerry's commands, he knew it was time to go to work." Resetar said he witnessed Hero's impact first-hand when he went with the dog and August to aid in the recovery effort after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attack in New York City. Resetar, August and Hero searched  for human remains at a Staten Island landfill where debris from the World Trade Center was taken for inspection 15 miles  away from the disaster site. Resetar said the team spent a few days working the 3,000-acre area. "We found numerous  items, one of which was a femur bone," Resetar said. The chief said he was impressed with Hero's performance, especially because the dog was trained for the special duty only a week before the trip. "Personally, that was the time that stands out for me," Resetar said. "It was unbelievable." Resetar said Hero regularly showed up at the  police station with August, even toward the end. "He had a tumor removed from his side two or three weeks prior  to his death. They felt that they had all the cancer, and then he developed another tumor," Resetar said. "I can only remember a few times he wasn't at work with Kerry due to illness, but it was very rare."  August said his connection  with the dog was much more than just a work relationship. K-9 police dogs live with their  handlers. "Hero was my best friend and partner, along with being another member of my family," August said. "Hero  loved going to schools in the area and would always make new friends. Over the years, we took part  in K-9 demonstrations in front of over 10,000 people, and everywhere that we went, Hero made new friends. "What  I will miss most is looking into my rearview mirror and not seeing those two big ears pointing up." Resetar said the police department has no immediate plans to replace Hero.  submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA

Midland PD mourns death of police dog 
The Midland Police Department this week mourns the loss of Harley, a 7-year-old German shepherd who officials  said served the force faithfully for over five years. Harley worked and lived with his partner, canine handling Officer Taylor  Welch and his family. "The dogs live with the handlers and integrate with their family," explained MPD Lt. Seth Herman. "You're with the dog more than your family and so it becomes very much a partnership and they become a member of the family."  The dog was scheduled to retire this fall and died Monday of natural causes, officials said. "Taylor is very family oriented and secondly he's very much of an animal lover and when it comes to young children, a lot of times it's harder on them than anyone else in the household." Sgt. Kimberly Martinez said the entire department feels the loss.  "It's something that everybody is impacted by," Martinez explained. Harley performed narcotics searches, general tracking and participated in the apprehension of criminal suspects. "They're much more than drug dogs, they can even do article searches in fields," Martinez said. "It doesn't have to be drugs, it can be guns or  evidence they recover."   The MPD now is left with three police dogs and Herman said he wasn't sure of the time  frame for when Harley would be replaced. While Herman was not sure how much a young police dog costs, he  said they are very valuable. They normally retire as working dogs at around age 7 or 8.  "When we get them, they're already trained to a certain extent, but the handler trains them on narcotic detection,"  Herman explained.  "Once you're done you're looking at quite a bit of money, you're looking at tens of thousands of  dollars these dogs are worth." The department has a dog cemetery at its firing range where those who have passed on are honored.
submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA

In Loving Memory of
K-9 HUEY
March 23, 2007

Handler: Sergeant Dave Campbell 
Sequim Police Department 
609 W Washington St Ste 16
Sequim, Washington 98382 - (360)683-7227 

Sequim's police department is mourning the loss of one of its own....a retired police dog that became a hit with local residents.   "Huey" a 12-year old Labrador mix, and the founding member of the Sequim Police Department's K-9 team passed away Friday K-9 team after he was given to the department in 2000 from the Clallam County Sheriff's Department. Huey had  undergone extensive training, and was an annually accredited member of the Washington State Police Canine Association. Prior to working with the sheriff's department, Huey had been rescued from an animal shelter in Pierce County. Over 150 drug-related arrests  were attributed to Huey's prior to his official retirement in 2005. In addition to his drug-sniffing responsibilities, Huey also  participated in many public awareness forums ranging from the schools, to local service groups. Huey entertained and educated hundreds of Sequim residents, and was a crowd favorite wherever he went. Upon his retirement in 2005, Huey lived with Sergeant Campbell at his home in Sequim. The Sequim Town Partners (PO Box 269, Sequim, WA 98382), a local community based, non-profit group have been long time supporters and fund raisers who continue to support and help fund the operating costs of our K-9 Program. The Sequim
Police Department thanks the Sequim Town Partners for their continuing support of the K-9.
submitted by Jim Cortina