In Loving Memory of
K9 OZZO
October 8, 2008

Handler: Sgt. Larry Webb
Longview Police Department
302 West Cotton
Longview TX 75601
Tel (903) 237-1199

Ex-Longview police dog dies from unspecified health problems
Ozzo, the retired Longview Police K-9 officer, is pictured with partner Sgt. Larry Webb.
A 13-year-old retired police dog died on Wednesday. He was 91 in dog years. K-9 Officer Ozzo was born in Czechoslovakia in 1995, according to a press release from the Longview Police Department. He joined the department in September 1997. He retired in December 2004 and went to live with the family of his handler, Sgt. Larry Webb. He died because of unspecified health problems. During his service, Ozzo was credited with 34 felony arrests and 18 misdemeanor arrests, according to the release.The majority of Ozzo's apprehensions came from his outstanding ability to track suspects, including three felony suspect engagements. He was responsible for seizing a total of about 1,035 grams of crack cocaine, more than 31 pounds of marijuana, $6,000 in cash and a Chevrolet Tahoe. The Longview Police Department has three K-9s in service, with one dog on each department shift. He sniffed out suspects, located illegal narcotics and found thousands of dollars during his tenure as a K-9 Officer with the Longview Police Department. Friday his human officers remembered the German shepherd they knew as Ozzo. Kevin Brownlee, the department's public information officer, said the 13-year-old Ozzo died Wednesday of health problems. He was the canine partner of Sgt. Larry Webb. Ozzo was born in on May 7, 1995. He started working patrol at the Longview Police Department in September of 1997 and retired in December of 2004. Ozzo held certifications for narcotics detection and police service dog from the National Narcotic Detector Dog Association.  He was a great tracking dog and not many drug dogs can find narcotics and track. He was a great asset to us, Brownlee said. That was a lot of work on his part, because that is a lot of rocks of crack cocaine, he said. Ozzo had spent his retirement as a companion to Sgt. Webb and his family.
submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA

In Loving Memory of
K9  OOZIE
July 17, 2008
--
Handler: Deputy Jerry Wengert
Broward County Sheriff's Office
2601 W. Broward Blvd.
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33312
(888)276-7827

During the early morning hours of Thursday, July 17, BSO K-9 Oozi was shot and killed while pursuing a dangerous suspect. The men and women of the Broward Sheriff's Office mourn the loss of Oozi and will forever honor his sacrifice.  Oozi, a Belgian Malinois, was a law enforcement patrol dog. Oozi and his handler, Deputy Jerry Wengert, received employee of the month honors in May 2008 for their apprehension of burglary suspects that tried running them over.  With 6,100 employees, including more than 2,800 certified deputies and more 600 fire rescue professionals,the Broward Sheriff's Office (BSO) is America's largest nationally accredited sheriff's department.

BSO K9 Killed In Shoot Out At Miami Beach Hospital
Charges Are Pending Against Delvin Lewis
MIAMI BEACH  A wild chase from North Broward to Miami Beach ended in the death of a police K-9 dog and the arrest of a Lauderdale Lakes man. The Broward Sheriff's Office said the incident began around 12: 30 a.m. when they received a call about shots being fired in the 3-hundred block of Northeast 35th Court. When deputies arrived, Michelle Taylor said her boyfriend, 27-year old Delvin Lewis, had fired several shots at her during an argument and then took off. Taylor, who was not injured, gave deputies a description of Lewis' car; and police issued a "bolo", or "be on the lookout."
Lewis was spotted a short time later in the area of I-95 and Commercial Boulevard. More than a dozen officers joined the pursuit as the chase headed south into Miami Dade County. Nelda Fonticiella of Miami-Dade police said, "Once the vehicle entered Dade County, our officers tried to detain him the subject continued eluding police."  The chase came to an end outside of Mt. Sinai Medical Center when Lewis bailed out of the car and fired several shots at the deputies and other police officers. One of Lewis' bullets struck and killed BSO K-9 dog "Oozi."  "Oozi" was a seven and a half year old Belgian Malinois. He was assigned to Cooper City. He was trained in narcotics and had helped with hundreds of apprehensions throughout his career, including three dozen this year alone. Hospital personnel tried to save "Oozi" but he died on the scene.  Police fired back at Lewis and he was struck. He was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Charges are pending.
Lewis is no stranger to the law. In 2003, he was charged with injuring, or killing, a law enforcement animal. His record also includes drug charges, battery on a police officer, battery on a pregnant woman and resisting arrest.
More Information:
K-9 dog killed after Broward deputies trail suspect to Miami Beach
A police officer stands in front of the Mount Sinai Hospital on Miami Beach, where a fast speed chase came to an end on Thursday morning.  A Broward County Sheriff's Office K-9 was shot and killed during an exchange of gunfire with a man in Miami Beach on Thursday morning. Police say it started as a domestic dispute at a house located at 309 NE 35 Court in Oakland Park. The suspect allgedly fired shots. No one there was injured. The suspect's vehicle was spotted at Commercial Boulevard and I-95 and a pursuit began. Dozens of officers from several different departments followed that vehicle down I-95 southbound and then eastbound on the 195. The suspect then drove into the Mount Sinai Hospital campus. Once he was corned, police say the suspect opened fire, shooting and killing a Broward County Sheriff 's Canine Officer. The suspect was shot by police. He suffered non-life threatening injuries and was taken to the county trauma center, Jackson Memorial Hospital. The suspect has been identified as 27 year-old Delvin Lewis. Police are still on scene at the hospital but the medical center is open. The chase, which included roughly 20 cruisers, ended near Mount Sinai Medical Center's emergency room -- the 4300 block of Alton Road. Authorities had the entire area locked down three hours after the shooting, but the area has reopened and the hospital's ER and other facilities are accessible, according to a Mount Sinai spokeswoman.  Here's how BSO said it happened: About 12:30 a.m. Thursday, BSO responded to a call of shots fired at 309 NE 35 Ct. in Oakland Park. Initial reports are it was a domestic situation, where the boyfriend -- believed to be Lewis -- fired at least one shot and then fled. His girlfriend was not injured. BSO issued a Be-On-The-Lookout alert for his vehicle, which authorities spotted near Commercial Boulevard and I-95. A chase ensued. It stretched all the way to Miami Beach, nearly 30 miles, until Lewis began shooting near Mount Sinai. He struck and killed the K-9, before cops shot him, ending the altercation.
submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA
UPDATES
K9 Killed By Bullets From Police, Not Suspect  -   Oozi Got Into The Line Of Fire While Apprehending Suspect
Oozi, BSO K9 killed in the line of duty - Delvin Lewis

 A memorial service will be held next week for a slain Broward Sheriff's Office K-9 dog that officials now say was killed by bullets from police and not the suspect. The memorial for Oozi, the 7 year old Belgian Malinois, will be held Wednesday afternoon at Cooper City High School. The police dog was fatally shot Thursday morning during pursuit of a suspect. Officers followed the suspect, 27-year-old Delvin Lewis, to Miami Beach after they received a call about shots being fired in the 300 block of NE 35th Court in Broward County. When deputies arrived on the scene, Lewis' ex-girlfriend, Michael Taylor said Lewis had fired several shots at her during an argument and then took off. Deputies spotted Lewis on I-95 and he led them on a chase into Miami-Dade County, which ended in the parking lot of Mt. Sinai Medical Center. According to a police report, Lewis made ''a reaching motion toward the floorboard, as if attempting to retrieve a handgun,'' and that's when BSO deputies and a Miami-Dade police officer opened fire. Oozi had already been let loose to help apprehend Lewis but entered the line of fire and was fatally wounded. According to the Miami-Dade arrest report released on Friday, police did not find a gun in Delvin Lewis' car. Lewis was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital for non-life threatening injuries. He has been charged with aggravated assault with a motor vehicle on a law enforcement officer; aggravated fleeing and eluding; resisting an officer with violence; and principal in the death of a police dog, which is a felony. Oozi and his handler, Deputy Jerry Wengert, received employee of the month honors in May 2008 for their apprehension of burglary suspects that tried running them over.
 
Police dog's bravery brings more than 500 officers to memorial service
Slain police dog was perfect partner  7/24/08  Florida
K-9 officers show their support at the memorial service.
 Police danger, they face danger,'' BSO Sheriff Al Lamberti said at the memorial service. ``K-9 handlers have that special bond with their K-9 partners. They work together, they live together and -- most importantly -- they fight crime together.'' Oozi, a 7 ½-year-old Belgian Malinois, worked with Wengert out of the Cooper City DiVideo
Deputies remember fallen K-9

Video http://video.ap.org/v/default.aspx?f=FLMIH&g=d1827d9d-f625-43e5-b2ec-44d2d969362c&mk=en-ap&fg=svip_email
 Oozi wasn't just Deputy Jerry Wengert's partner, or even just his best friend -- he was like a son. A furry fellow who didn't like the rain. A 75-pound dog who liked to sit on Wengert's lap. A canine escape artist who helped himself to food at a block party. Hundreds of law enforcement officers from across the state -- including more than 150 canine handlers and their dogs -- gathered Wednesday afternoon to pay tribute to the Broward Sheriff's Office K-9 dog fatally wounded by an officer's bullet last Thursday in Miami Beach. ''When we work, they work. When we fastrict and is credited with assisting in hundreds of apprehensions, including 35 this year. In May, Wengert and Oozi were recognized as BSO's employees of the month when they apprehended two suspects who had tried to intentionally run them over, Lamberti said.
At the memorial service Wednesday, Wengert, 29, eulogized Oozi in front of more than 400 people at Cooper City High. To his left, an urn with Oozi's remains. In front of him, a case containing Oozi's harness, leash and badge. ''He was my partner, my friend, my son and most of all my warrior,'' said Wengert, who began working in the field with Oozi in December 2004. Besides recounting stories of their crime-fighting work, Wengert shared a few light-hearted stories, such as the time Oozi escaped from his cage and gobbled up food at a nearby Christmas block party. ''To Oozi, the world was a playground,'' said Wengert, describing how the dog would sometimes act goofy by doing flips in the air or drink water on the ground while chasing someone. But Oozi always made him look good, Wengert said. ''If your dog could drive, you would be out of a job,'' a colonel once told Wengert.One time in training, Wengert actually found Oozi in the front seat of his car with one paw on the steering wheel. Oozi died from an officer's bullet early July 17 after getting caught in the line of fire. The incident followed a two-county car chase as deputies pursued Delvin Lewis from Oakland Park to the parking lot of Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach. Lewis, who was also wounded by officer fire, faces charges related to Oozi's death because the police chase led to the dog's demise. It is still not known which deputy or officer struck Oozi. Both agencies are investigating the incident. Two other local police dogs have died in the line of duty in the past decade, Deputy Canine Handler Steven Sprouse said. Oozi lived with Wengert, his wife and their two young girls. Jenna Wengert, 8, called Oozi her brother. Jenna and her 5-year-old sister, Jayden, would tell Oozi to ''catch lots of bad guys'' before he went to work with Wengert.''I love you, Oozi, and we miss you,'' Jenna said. ``We will never forget you. Thank you for making sure my daddy came home safe.''
 *****************update:******************
Man Sentenced In Case That Led To Police Dog Death
Delvin Lewis Pleaded Guilty To Eluding Police & Driving With a Suspended License
3/6/09 - Florida 
 Oozi, BSO K9 killed in the line of duty          Deputy Jerry Wengert and K-9 Oozi
Delvin Lewis

A man who was the center of a two-county police chase that ended when a police dog was shot to death admitted his guilt in court Friday morning. Delvin Lewis pleaded guilty to eluding police and driving with a suspended license. Prosecutors dropped burglary and battery charges which stemmed from a fight he had with his girlfriend. Lewis was sentenced to five years of probation with an ankle monitor and treatment for post traumatic stress disorder. Last July, Lewis led police on a chase from Broward County into Miami-Dade that ended in the parking lot of Mt. Sinai Hospital on Miami Beach. According to a police report, Lewis made ''a reaching motion toward the floorboard, as if attempting to retrieve a handgun,'' and that's when BSO deputies and a Miami-Dade police officer opened fire. Oozi, a BSO police dog, had already been let loose to help apprehend Lewis but entered the line of fire and was fatally wounded. Lewis was also shot three times by officers who thought he was reaching for a gun while fighting off the police dog. Oozi was a 7 year old Belgian Malinois assigned to BSO's Cooper City District. He had been trained in narcotics and helped with hundreds of arrests throughout his career.      submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA