In Loving Memory of
K-9 VALOR
March 28, 2007

Handler: Amy Fiano
Windsor Police Department
340 Bloomfield Avenue
Windsor, CT 06095
ph: 860-688-5273 - Fx: 860-683-2862

Police K-9 teams from across state attend memorial - 4/17/08 - Connecticut  
Police K-9 teams from across Connecticut attended a memorial service April 12 for two of their comrades, deceased K-9s Jag and Valor of the Windsor Police Department. Coming from far corners of the state, such as Stratford and Ledyard, cruisers marked "K-9" lined both sides of Broad Street. Forming an honor processessional on each side of the central pathway of the town green, K-9 teams with black bands across their badges lined the central path of the town green.  Officers Steven Vesco and Amy Fiano of the WPD carried the ashes of their former K-9 partners along the honor processional and placed them on a draped table where flower petals where strewn and next to a headstone for Jag and Valor. Donated by the Ferraina family of Windsor, the headstone will be placed outside the Public Safety Complex. In memory, Vesco and Fiano saluted Jag and Valor. Both Jag and Valor had been retired after many years of service to Windsor. Jag died this year on March 26 and Valor died March 28, 2007. The memorial service for Jag and Valor also paid respect to the dedication of all police K-9 handlers and the special bond between officers and their K-9 partners. As well, the service memorialized police K-9s that passed without eulogy because it is rare for communities to host such a service. Serving as master of ceremonies, Officer Christopher Moylan of the Enfield Police Department K-9 unit indicated he hoped the memorial in Windsor will encourage other towns to hold similar services.
"I hope this will have a domino effect," he said.WPD Detective Michele Neary, who helped Moylan organize the service, read from a poem written by Moylan, titled, "Heaven's Gate." An a cappella rendition of "Amazing Grace" sung by Moylan's wife brought many in the audience to tears. Officer Eric A. Rocheleau, of the West Hartford Police Department K-9 unit, praised Vesco and Fiano for the "spotless and unbeliveable" reputation of the Windsor police K-9 unit. "People don't understand the bond an officer has with a K-9 partner, working double shifts - they don't complain," said Rocheleau," t he stress of putting them in harm's way, the thrill of the capture." Rocheleau went on to talk about the emotions for officers that are tied to retiring their K-9 partners and the depth of sorrow that comes when they die. Captain Thomas LePore of the WPD noted that Valor had been a Fidelco guide dog that proved to be too social for service with that organization. "So, Valor came to us," said LePore. Valor's disposition made the canine ideal for community relations, and Valor and Fiano became popular and much requested at school events, said LePore. In addition, he said, Valor and Fiano were well known in town and always welcomed while making their rounds by local businesspeople. At the time Fiano was paired with Valor in 1997, she was one of just a few female handlers in Connecticut. Serving from 1997 to 2004, Valor and Fiano were called out many times to search for subjects or drugs. 
WPD Capain Kelvan Kearse not only worked with Jag and Vesco in Windsor but also as commander of the regional SWAT team. "He was a pound dog," said Kearse. Yet, paired with Vesco from 1997 to 2007, Kearse said, Jag developed into a police K-9 that, in his opinion, was "second to none." Kearse said Jag was trained to such precision that he could be sent in pursuit by Vesco yelling, "go get him," but stop immediately in front of a suspect in a "bark and hold" position without biting, unless it became absolutely neccessary. Kearse shared some humorous memories of Jag and Vesco, but said when it came to police work, the two were always serious. Vesco and Jag participated in hundreds of arrests and numerous physical apprehensions, he noted. Jag matured into a police K-9 with tracking skills so extraordinary, said Kearse, that once Jag and Vesco were on a suspect's trail it was just a matter of waiting to hear the inevitable message radioed in, "We got 'em." That held true, noted Kearse, until Jag's last day on the job. "Jag's presence will be missed," said Kearse. Addressing the group, Vesco thanked many people, especially his wife and children and the families of all K-9 team officers, for the sacrifice they endure in the face of their loved one's long hours of training and duty. If there is one piece of advice he could impart to other officers, Vesco said it is "trust your dog." Windsor Police Chief Kevin Searles said later that the memorial service was important. "It is important to reinforce the values so important to officers, to rekindle their sense of dedication to duty and the dedication of all officers to the mission of protecting the public," said Searles. As the ceremony came to a close, each K-9 team came forward to salute the memory of Jag and Valor. At Vesco's request, Officer Richard Boyle of the Manchester Police Department K-9 unit read the poem "Guardians of The Night." Author unknown, excerpts of the poem read: "Trust in me my friend for I am your comrade. I will protect you with my last breath when all others have left you And the loneliness of the night closes in, I will be at your side. Together we will conquer all obstacles, and search out those who might wish harm to others. "For a time, we were unbeatable. Nothing passed among us undetected. If we should meet again on another street, I will gladly take up your fight, I am a Police Working Dog, and together we are guardians of the night." The complete text of "Guardians of The Night" can be found on the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association Web site. 
submitted by Jim Cortina Dir. CPWDA