K-9 Creasy is shown here at the 2009 United States Police Canine Association National Field trials in
Detroit Lakes, Minn. After nearly four years with the Marshalltown Police Department,
Creasy died Tuesday from complications suffered from an embolism earlier this year.
After nearly four years of service, the Marshalltown Police Department's K-9 officer Creasy has died.
An embolism Creasy suffered earlier this year sidelined him from police work and eventually overtook
Sgt. Kiel Stevenson's partner Tuesday night. Creasy borrows his name from Denzel Washington's character
in the movie "Man on Fire." Washington's character sacrifices his life to save an innocent girl. Much like
the character, Creasy served as a stalwart protector, fighting to regain his ability to serve right up until his death.
"It was a sad day for us yesterday," said Marshalltown Police Chief Mike Tupper. "Creasy was an important part of
this police department. We lost a good friend and good partner." Creasy, a Czech-bred shepherd, was a
sociable dog who reveled in the many demonstrations he and Stevenson did for children and community groups.
Additionally, he was instrumental in removing hundreds of dollars in drugs from the street. Creasy lived with
Stevenson and his family. Tupper said while Creasy's death was difficult on everyone at the MPD, for Stevenson
it was liking losing a member of his family. He was unavailable for comment at press time.
Just a couple weeks prior to his injury, Creasy assisted Grundy County Sheriff's deputies in locating a
suspect who allegedly assaulted a deputy. And it wasn't the only time Creasy helped find a suspect. Over
the course of his short career, Creasy helped locate dozens of hidden suspects. The death of Creasy leaves the
MPD with only one K-9 unit - Sgt. Melinda Ruopp's partner K-9 Awol. Since Awol has a degenerative muscle disease,
the MPD is seeking money to replace Creasy and eventually Awol as his retirement nears.
While the MPD is closing in on its initial $20,000 goal, its long-term goal is $60,000, Tupper said.
The department can use all the help it can get. To donate money to aid the MPD with replacing Creasy and Awol,
send a check payable to: Marshalltown Police Department
22 N. Center St.,
Marshalltown, Iowa 50158.
Write "K-9 fund" in the memo line.
submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir CPWDA
In Loving Memory of
K9 CARGO
December 11, 2012
Handler: Const. Michael Jordan
Vancouver Canada
k9 RCMP police dog dies weeks before retirement
Chilliwack RCMP police dog Cargo died suddenly on Jan. 10. He was set to retire in January 2013 after a life in service.
Const. Michael Jordan and RCMP police dog Cargo are seen on duty. Cargo died suddenly on Jan. 10.
He was set to retire in January 2013 after a life in service.
Const. Michael Jordan and RCMP police dog Cargo are seen during the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.
Cargo died suddenly on Jan. 10. He was set to retire in January 2013 after a life in service.
Const. Michael Jordan is shown with Cargo, who served at a number of major events and summits,
and starred in a recruiting commercial.
After six years of chasing suspects, finding lost people, sniffing out explosives and guarding the likes of
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, RCMP police service dog Cargo has died. A member of the Lower Mainland
district integrated police dog service in Chilliwack, Cargo was out for his post-shift run with handler,
Const. Michael Jordan when his energy flagged and he showed signs of distress. Jordan took Cargo to
the nearest veterinarian and Cargo underwent exploratory surgery. During surgery it was discovered that his
body was riddled with cancer. A short time later, Cargo died. “Police service dogs love their work,”
Jordan said in a news release.
“Cargo worked right up until the end without any hesitation and with no previous signs of illness. He’s been a
great companion and partner as we have done a lot together and he will be greatly missed.” Cargo was a month
short of his retirement, when he was set to go from working dog to family pet. Cargo was born on June 23, 2003
in the Czech Republic. He was later purchased to be part of the RCMP breeding program. Jordan, a 15-year
RCMP member, and Cargo trained in 2005 and graduated in 2006. Since graduation Cargo has been involved in
a number of major Canadian events and summits, including the 2010 Winter Olympics.
He starred in a recruiting commercial, specialized in explosives and was even a guard dog for the Prime Minister
on several occasions. Cargo worked on low- and high-profile cases, tracking a hit-and-run driver, finding a
woman suffering from Alzheimer’s, catching bank robbers and working on the EnCana pipeline bombings
investigation in Dawson Creek. Cargo was cremated and his ashes will stay with Jordan and his family.
Sgt. Rick Chaulk, of the Lower Mainland District RCMP Integrated Police Dog Service, added: “The special
bond that exists between our handlers and their service dog begins the moment the two meet.
There is never any guarantee that this pair will ever make it to the streets protecting lives and property.
“Once this day is finally realized, the pair put their trust in each other, shift after shift, to ensure they
return home safely to their loved ones. “As police service dog teams are always the front-line
members tasked to deal with high-risk situations, called upon to locate the missing child or elderly parent,
the bond between the two must be genuine and unconditional. “Compound this over a working dog’s lifespan,
and clearly one can understand this unique relationship ... between handler and dog.” submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA
In Loving Memory of
K9 CAESAR
December 2012
waiting for info
In Loving Memory of
K9 CARO
October 17, 2012
Handler: Officer Jerry Donahue
Middleboro Police Department
99 N. Main St.
Middleborough, MA 02346
CARO,: Middleboro’s first police dog, died in October. He served the town for nearly 10 years.
OFFICER JERRY DONAHUE: with Caro at the ceremony where Caro was recognized for his role in finding missing persons.
Middleboro police truly lost one of their own this fall with the passing of Caro, the first canine officer in the town's K-9 unit. Caro was almost 12 years old when he died Oct. 17, and had spent most of his life at the side of Officer Jerry Donahue, fighting crime and locating missing people. Caro, who retired from service in March, was honored this year at the State House for his work with tracking missing people. He and Officer Donahue received a citation from the state House of Representatives. "He located close to a dozen people, from missing kids to elderly people with Alzheimer's and people attempting suicide," his handler and partner said.
Officer Donahue, who kept the Belgian shepherd at his home from the time the young dog arrived in Middleboro in 2002, speaks with pride of the animal that had a unique talent, and a real love, for tracking. His first case involved locating the suspects who had commited an armed robbery at a Rte. 28 gas station. Brought to the scene right after the robbery had been reported, Caro tracked one of the suspects right to his front door. "His last year of work a gentleman threatened to commit suicide, and his girlfriend reported it," Officer Donahue said. "We found him hiding in some bushes, and he told us (his girlfriend) was going to do it, too, and that's why he wanted to kill himself."
Police returned to the girlfriend's home and found that she had taken pills. "In finding one person we saved two," Officer Donahue said. "If it wasn't for the dog we wouldn't have found them." Caro created some light moments for fellow officers, if not for the suspects he apprehended. His first "arrest" involved a perimeter search after a team had raided a house. One of the suspects ran off through the woods, but "he didn't get very far," Officer Donahue recalled. Caro caught up with him, and it was likely he took meals standing up for a while since the dog nabbed him from behind.
Officer Donahue, who started training a new dog as Caro was getting ready for retirement, has his new partner Phaelan on the job. He misses his old friend as anyone would miss a beloved pet, and following the dog's cremation at Angelview Pet Cemetery last month he brought the ashes home. "We had an extremely strong bond," Officer Donahue said. But he especially wanted people to know about Caro's passing because the dog not only performed a service to the community but was here as the result of donations from the public.
The K-9 program has never been funded by the town. Donations pay for everything from special equipment for the K-9 vehicle to food for Phaelan. The program is still operating on money that was raised at the beginning, in 2002, but donations are always welcome and can be sent to the Middleboro Police Department, 99 North Main St. Checks should be made out to the Middleboro Police K-9 Unit. The town is currently considering a plan to renovate the police station and build an addition. If that happens, the new station will include some kind of memorial to Caro.
submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA
In Loving Memory of
K9 CASTOR
November, 2012
Handler: Michael Smith
Vienna Police Dept.
GA
Fallen police dog honored Wednesday
With information from the Vienna Police Department - A Vienna Police officials invite the public to join them for
Police Honors in the Vienna City Square for their fallen K-9 officer, Castor. The service will be held
Wednesday, November 28, 2012 at 11:00 am.
VPD says that Castor was the first police dog for both Warwick and Vienna Police Departments. He worked a
shift for the Vienna PD, and then died the following day, Veterans Day, from complications of lymphoma.
Michael Smith was castor's handler.
Castor had been with the Vienna Police Dept. since May of 2012. He was 10 years old, and had been a
K-9 Officer for seven years.
VPD says "Castor was a hard worker and he worked up until the day he died. A true public servant, Castor
worked a full shift on Saturday November 10 and he died the next day Veteran's Day. The canine officer will
receive honors including the last radio call, the folding of the American flag, and a bagpipe salute. submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA
In Loving Memory of
K9 COOPER
October 18, 2012 Handler: Officer John Butschky
Millville Police Department
18 South High St.
Millville, NJ
Retired Millville police dog dies
A former police patrol dog responsible for more than 200 surrenders and apprehending more than $3 million worth
of drugs has died. Cooper, an 11-year-old German shepherd, was the K-9 partner of Officer John Butschky
from December 2008 to May 2011, police said.Prior to joining the Millville police, Cooper worked with officers
at the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department, where his career began in 2003 after graduating from
the New Jersey State Police K-9 Academy. (It has been a very 'tough' year for this Millville PD... please send condolences)
In Loving Memory of
K9 CAESAR
August 31, 2012
Handler: Officer Eric Apodaca
Retired Springs police dog dies
Caesar, a Slovakian-born German Shepherd who spent three years tracking narcotics and dangerous
subjects for the Colorado Springs Police Department, died on Friday. Caesar, who was 12 years old,
was assigned to Officer Eric Apodaca in 2002, and spent 600 hours training for patrol duty and
scent detection. Caesar once found eight pounds of methamphetamine inside a storage locker —
merely one of many drug busts and suspect apprehensions.
He retired in 2005 and went to live with K-9 Officer Brian Kelly.
ryan.handy@gazette.com <ryan.handy@gazette.com> submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA
In Loving Memory of
K9 CERBIE
August 28, 2012
Need Photo and breed.....
Handler: Officer Andrew Sanchez
Ramapo Police Department
Ramape, NY Peter Brower - Chief of Police (845) 357-2400 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting
Cerbie, a 2-year-old police K-9, died this morning, the town said in a statement. Cerbie had been placed in
the Musbro Kennels in Orangeburg since Saturday while his handler, Ramapo Police Officer Andrew Sanchez,
was out of town. The cause of Cerbie’s death was not clear. His veterinarian will examine his body to
determine why he died. Cerbie had been with the Ramapo police since March 2011. He graduated from
the Orange County K9 Academy in July 2011 after a 16-week training and was used for narcotics
detection and for tracking. He was also very friendly in the community policing setting, according
to the statement, and great with children. The Ramapo police department plans to have a
remembrance ceremony for Cerbie. Details weren’t immediately available. submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA
In Loving Memory of
K9 CHUCK
August 23, 2012
Handler:
Jackson County Sheriff’’s Department P.O. Box 998
Pascagoula, MS 39568
Jackson County Sheriff Mike Byrd says a department K-9 has died of heat exhaustion.
Byrd said that the dog, named Chuck, died Thursday. Chuck was a 4-year-old Belgian Malinois.
Byrd says a deputy left Chuck in the running car with the air conditioner turned on
while he went inside to fill out a report. The sheriff says that's the normal procedure.
When the deputy returned, he found the car was no longer running,
and the dog was dead. Byrd says Chuck lived with the deputy.
The dog was purchased with seized drug money. submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA
In Loving Memory of
K9 CREED
August 5, 2012
Handler: Sgt. Andy Bevil
Panama Police Department
309 Main Street
Panama, OK
Panama K9 dog murdered, memorial service set
On August 5, 2012, the Panama Police Department K9 Dog “Creed” was killed in the line of duty,
while protecting the home of his handler. The investigation is ongoing and it is believed that Creed was
targeted because of his service to the Panama Police Department.
A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, August 15, 2012, at 11AM.
The Service will be held at the Panama First Baptist Church
(107 Jones Street, Panama, OK).
Ten-Four Ministries, a non-profit organization that supports
law enforcement across the country, has partnered with a local business to offer a $1000 reward for
information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the suspect in this crime. Cherry Berry Yogurt Bar
in Fort Smith has joined in the efforts. Creed was a two-year old German Shepherd that became a
member of the Panama Police Department in August of 2011. During his service with the community,
Creed assisted in the search of illegal narcotics in both Panama and Wister Public Schools and also
participated in demonstrations for educational purposes during Red Ribbon week. In his short but successful
career, Creed had countless alerts to narcotics on vehicle traffic stops and aided in the tracking and
apprehension of numerous suspects. The Panama Police Department is not mourning the loss of Creed
but rather celebrating his many accomplishments. Creed was the only K9 serving the City of Panama
and a fund has been set up by Ten-Four Ministries to provide the Panama Police Department with
a K9 and training. Donations are tax-deductible.
Reward for information submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA
& Tracy Klett, K9 artist
Authorities in Lee County are awaiting autopsy results to determine what caused the death of a K9 officer that went missing early
last week. Lee County Sheriff Gary Parsons said the remains of K9 Officer Chase were located in the Stone Creek community
late Friday night in a culvert off State Route 606, approximately two miles from where he was last seen July 16. “He had
begun to decompose, so we couldn’t make a determination (as to cause of death),” Parsons said. “He was
laying outside, and it was so humid, so that’s why we’re sending him off.” Parsons said the dog’s autopsy will be carried
out by the Virginia Tech College of Veterinary Medicine in Blacksburg.
Since the remains were discovered, Parsons said officers have been following various leads in an effort to identify possible suspects.
“If we catch whoever did this, we’ll prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law,” Parsons said. “They’re nothing
but trash in my book.” Killing a police dog is a Class 5 felony in Virginia that carries a sentence ranging from one to
10 years in prison. Parsons said a $1,000 reward has been posted by the Lee County Board of Supervisors for
information leading to a successful conviction in the case. Another $2,500 reward was posted by the Lee County Farm Bureau.
Chase — a black German shepherd — was the Lee County Sheriff Office’s only K9 officer. Parsons said the dog
cost the department roughly $8,000 to obtain less than a year ago. Parsons said the dog went missing around noon July 16
when his handler, Deputy Roger Gates, stopped at the Leeman Field on the outskirts of Pennington Gap to use the
restroom. After returning to his cruiser, Parsons said Gates noticed the K9 officer had apparently been taken from
the back seat. “Somebody got him out of the car,” Parsons said. “There’s no doubt about that.” Parsons added: “(Chase) was
pretty involved in the community, and a lot of people had been around him and petted him. Some people may
have known he was a passive dog.”
Officers unsuccessfully searched the immediate area for Chase before receiving a tip several days later that a dead
dog matching the K9’s description had been located near a trash bin three miles from the site where he went missing.
The dog’s remains had been removed by the time officers arrived to verify the claim, Parsons said. The dog was
finally located late Friday night in a culvert nearby. Since the dog first went missing, Parsons said the reaction
from the community has been supportive of the sheriff’s office. “It makes you feel good that there are
good people out there concerned about the pieces of trash that would do something like this,” Parsons said.
Parsons said Chase’s handler was naturally upset by the incident, and the department plans to hold a service
for the fallen K9 in the near future. “He’s of course very upset about his dog, but he’s doing fine,” Parsons said.
“We plan on having a memorial service really soon.” Parsons said his office will file an insurance claim as a
result of the incident and does plan on adding another K9 officer to the ranks as soon as possible.
Anyone with information surrounding the K9’s disappearance or death can contact the
Lee County Sheriff’s Office at (276) 346-7777 or Lee County Dispatch at (276) 346-1131. submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA
Puyallup police mourn fallen tracking dog
Puyallup’s police force is mourning one of its own. Chance, a 6-year-old German shepherd who worked as a tracking dog,
died unexpectedly Tuesday during a routine veterinary procedure. He’d gone in for treatment of a back ailment
common to his breed, and was sedated while undergoing an MRI, said police Capt. Dave McDonald.
Chance worked with the same handler, Officer Gary Shilley, his entire five-year police career.
“Chance was a very good dog,” McDonald said. “His death is a loss to the department, his handler and the community.”
The department has two other police dogs, including Daro, a German shepherd who’s retiring this month after a
career spanning more than nine years.Daro was stabbed in the leg and cut on the head in 2010 by an armed suspect
he was tracking. He quickly recovered and returned to duty.
“These dogs are there to capture the person being pursued and to help protect their officer. They are a valuable asset to us,”
said City Councilman Steve Vermillion, who mentioned Chance’s death during Tuesday’s council meeting.
“It’s a loss to the department, and I can’t help but think of the officer who bonded with him all those years,” he said. submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA
MORE:
Puyallup officer, colleagues bid farewell to 4-legged partner
6/14/12 - Washington
Puyallup Police officer Gary Shilley, right , gets a hug from Metro Master Trainer Tim Fredericks, of Tacoma Police Dept.
at the Puyallup Church of the Nazarene Wednesday June 13, 2012 during a memorial for Shilley's K-9 partner Chance,
a German Shepard who died suddenly last week during a MRI checkup. Shilley, who was shot in the face at the
South Hill Mall in 2006 named his dog 'Chance,' because working with the dog represented a second chace
for the wounded officer. Fredericks, a patrol officer for TPD, helped train Chance for Shilley.
Puyallup police officer Gary Shilley once had to wrestle a belligerent man to the ground. Without hesitation,
his partner – who’d been sitting in the back of the pair’s patrol car – bounded out a window and into the fray.
“Chance was on him before I knew it,” Shilley said Wednesday, referring to the German shepherd he picked out,
trained and worked alongside for five years. “It’s going to be so hard not having him behind me anymore.”
Chance, who was nearly 6, died unexpectedly last week while undergoing a routine veterinary procedure.
The Puyallup Police Department honored him Wednesday during an emotional memorial service. About two dozen dog
handlers from throughout the Puget Sound attended in a show of support.
There were prayers and remarks from the police chief and chaplain, and some in the audience wiped away tears as
a slideshow with photos of Shilley and Chance played. There also was talk of the special bond between
a dog handler and his or her four-legged partner. That relationship is difficult to capture in words, Shilley said.
“You’re with him all the time,” he said. “He becomes integrated into your life and who you are, so much so that
you don’t realize it until he’s gone.” For Shilley, Chance played an especially important role. The officer was shot
in the face in 2006 during a traffic stop. His recovery was grueling, but it motivated him knowing he’d be working
with a new police dog upon his return, he said. (Shilley’s previous canine partner had retired before the shooting).
Shilley traveled to Ohio, where he picked out Chance. The dog originally was called Bosco, but Shilley changed his name
to something more meaningful. “He definitely represented a second chance to me,” Shilley said. Over his career,
Chance was sent out more than 250 times to track suspects fleeing crimes. He made 51 captures. And he knew how to
have fun off the clock. To the shepherd, a game of fetch involved at least two balls – one to chase and one to hold
in his mouth while he ran, said Shilley’s wife, Shelby. Chance lived with the Shilley family. Photos of the shepherd
were on display at the front of the church, along with his tracking harness and his formal blue police collar. As the
service wound down, the handlers in the pews lined up to offer Shilley handshakes and hugs.
“We all suffer this loss with Gary,” said Puyallup officer Doug Kitts, whose canine partner, Daro, retires this month.
“People may question, why do this for a dog? It’s just a dog. I say, ‘You just don’t get it. You haven’t been where
we’ve been.” In a eulogy, Shelby Shilley described Chance’s love for his job, his passion for tennis balls and stuffed birds,
and how much he meant to her family. He was “brave and unflinching,” she said. “In the words of the
Apostle Matthew, I say to Chance, our beloved friend and partner, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’” UP Date ------
----Hello, I stumbled upon your site doing some research for my club, Puyallup Valley Dog Fanciers. We are an all breed dog group (yup we show dogs lol) any who I saw the pictures of Chance (puyallup PD) and thought you might like an update. Our club realized that with Chance being lost and Officer Kitt's dog Daro retiring the Puyallup PD wouldn't have a DOG AT ALL!!! SOOOOOOO we figured we would help them out! Just thought you would like an update on a more positive note : ) Take care and keep up the good work!!
-- Police dog donation The Puyallup Valley Dog Fanciers Association donated $15,000.00 to buy the new dog.
In Loving Memory of
K9 Campos
May 12, 2012
(need more info)
In Loving Memory of
K9 CASEY II
May 8, 2012
Handler: Officer Ladwig
Woodbury County, IA
Woodbury County police dog dies
SIOUX CITY -- A retired Woodbury County Sheriff's Office dog has died. Casey, a 12-year-old yellow Labrador retriever,
was euthanized Monday. The dog had health problems. Deputy Tom Ladwig handled Casey for a decade.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with Tom right now," said Sgt. Jim Bauerly, supervisor of the department canine unit.
"These are not just ordinary dogs. They are our partners." Siouxland Humane Society donated Casey to the department in 2000.
The dog became certified in narcotics detection the following year. Casey and Ladwig found cash, drugs and illegal items
and participated in demonstrations at schools and events. The dog retired in 2011. Ladwig retired in April. -- Molly Montag
submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA
In Memory of
K9 CAESAR
May 1, 2012
Handler:
Jason Swart
#346
Yorktown
Police
Department
2281
Crompond Rd.
Yorktown
Heights, NY
PO J. Swart
#346
Yorktown
Police
Department
K9
Caesar
4/1/2005
-
5/1/2012
(dates
living)
4/1/2006
-
5/1/2012
(dates
of
service
Beloved
Yorktown
Police Dog
Caesar Dies
Caesar, who
was handled
by officer
Jason Swart,
had to be
put down on
Tuesday. The
Yorktown
Police
Department
has lost a
member of
its force –
police dog
Caesar,
which was
handled by
officer
Jason Swart.
"It's a big
loss,"
Yorktown
Police Lt.
Kevin Soravilla
said. "We're
still trying
to get over
it."
Caesar, who
suffered
from kidney
failure, had
to be put
down on
Tuesday. The
German Shepard
was
a member of
the
department
for the last
six years.
"It's a
tremendous
loss to the
department,"
said
Soravilla,
who called
the canine
an asset
because of
the work he
did and the
unique
abilities
Caesar was
trained for.
"[He] will
be missed."
Caesar and
his handler
have
received
more than
1,000 hours
of training.
The dog was
certified
by
New York
State and
other K9
certifying
agencies in
the
following: •Tracking
- missing
children,
persons and
suspects
•Article
searches -
finding
evidence or
lost items
•Location
searches -
open and
wooded
areas,
commercial
buildings
and
residential
structures
•Suspect
apprehension
- capturing
fleeing
felons,
resulting in
less risk to
both the
general
public
and
the involved
police
officers
•Narcotic
detection -
finding
drugs "on
the streets"
that are
harming and
killing
children
here in
Yorktown
Officer
Swart could
not be
immediately
reached for
comment.
Related
Topics:
Caesar,
Canine, and
Yorktown
Police
Department
Email Print
Submit tip 5
Comments
Mike
Rodriques
3:20 pm on
Wednesday,
May 2, 2012
-
RIP Caesar Reply
Victoria Roach 3:25 pm on
Wednesday,
May 2, 2012
Was Ceasar
given dog
treats from
China? There
have been
lots of dogs
who died
from
kidney
failure
and
they think
it is due to
tainted dog
treats.
Reply
Jessica
Gorman
10:15 pm on
Wednesday,
May 2, 2012
I can only
imagine all
the good
this
beautiful
dog has done
for this
community.
I
feel like
all dogs
truly do go
to heaven so
rest in
peace
Officer
Caesar,
you
are in a
better
place. May
God bless
Officer
Swart
who
must be
heartbroken
at the loss
of his
incredible
partner. Reply Roger 11:09 pm on
Wednesday,
May 2, 2012
My best goes
out to
Officer
Swart and
the rest of
the
Department.
Reply
Michele
Collins 7:22 am on
Thursday,
May 3, 2012
My prayers
go to out to
Jay and his
rest of his
family.
Office
Ceaser was a
part of his
family as
well as the
rest of the
Police
Department.
above was
submitted by
Jim Cortina
In
Loving
Memory of
K9 CALEB
April 10,
2012
Handler:
Officer John
Bailey
Bethlehem,
PA
Gwinnett County Police buried one of their own yesterday.
Funeral services for K-9 Caleb were held Thursday afternoon at Oak Rest Pet Gardens in Bethlehem.
Ofc. John Bailey said Caleb would be remembered by many for "bringing great tenacity to the game."
"Although stubborn at times, Caleb made a great police dog," Bailey said. "It is without question that he made
Gwinnett County a safer place to live."
After retiring from the force in March of 2011, K-9 Caleb became the full time pet of
his handler Cpl. Mike Waddell. "He was a wonderful addition to the Waddell family," Bailey said.
"He changed from being that tough police dog to being a silly part of their family," he added.
Bailey encouraged those in attendance not to dwell on the pain of losing Caleb.
"Caleb wouldn't want us to be sad right now because it wasn't in his nature," Bailey explained.
Caleb died unexpectedly on April 10. He would have been 10 years old on May 25.
The K-9 Promise
My eyes are your eyes to watch
and protect you and yours.
My ears are your ears to hear and
detect evil minds in the dark.
My nose is your nose to scent
the invader of your domain.
And so you may live,
My life is also yours. author unknown
Gwinnett County Police buried one of their own yesterday. Funeral services for K-9 Caleb were held Thursday afternoon
at Oak Rest Pet Gardens in Bethlehem. Ofc. John Bailey said Caleb would be remembered by many for
"bringing great tenacity to the game." "Although stubborn at times, Caleb made a great police dog," Bailey said.
"It is without question that he made Gwinnett County a safer place to live." After retiring from the force
in March of 2011, K-9 Caleb became the full time pet of his handler Cpl. Mike Waddell.
"He was a wonderful addition to the Waddell family," Bailey said. "He changed from being
that tough police dog to being a silly part of their family," he added. Bailey encouraged those in
attendance not to dwell on the pain of losing Caleb. "Caleb wouldn't want us to be sad right now
because it wasn't in his nature," Bailey explained. Caleb died unexpectedly on April 10.
He would have been 10 years old on May 25. submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA
Kronenwetter police K9 put down - ( Blastomycosis / Euthanized )
Kronenwetter police Officer Luis Lopes-Serrao with the department's K9 Chip
Chip
had
difficulty
breathing
and
developed
a
fever
Sunday.
Animal
doctors
later
discovered
that
he
likely
had
a
severe
case
of blastomycosis.
His
handler,
Officer
Luis
Lopes-Serrao,
agreed
early
Monday
to
euthanize
Chip
to
end
his
suffering.
The
police
department
has
not
made
a
decision
regarding
the
future
of
the
K9
program. Kronenwetter
got
Chip
in
2010.
He
and
Lopes-Serrao
worked
their
first
shift
that
June.
Chip
was
a
Belgian
Malinois
(mal-in-wah)
who
was
trained
to
help
look
for
drugs
and
missing
people,
protect
his
handler
and
help
arrest
suspects.
Chip
helped
police
find
a Kronenwetter
man
who
had
broken
into
a
Rib
Mountain
home
in
September
2010
and
tried
to
rob
a
woman.
The
dog
also
helped
police
find
a
man
who
fled
from
a
rollover
crash
last
fall. submitted
by
Jim
Cortina,
Dir.
CPWDA
In
Loving
Memory of
K9 CHESSIE
2012
(photo
generic)
Handler:
Deputy
Jonathan
Philemon
Union County
Sheriff's
Office
3344
Presson Road
Monroe, NC
28112
(704)
283-3844
Retired
police dog
spent half
her life on
the force,
dies of
cancer
Chessie, a
14-year-old
Chesapeake
Bay
Retriever,
retired in
2005 after
working as a
drug and
track police
dog for
years
with her handler,
Jonathan
Philemon, a
Union County
Sheriff's
deputy. The
dog worked
with two
other
handlers
before
Philemon,
but from
2002 to
2005, they
worked
together
every day. "Chessie
sniffed out
drugs,
chasing
people
through the
woods,"
he
said. "To
her, it was
a game to
find them
because she
knew she
would get
her toy
afterwards."
I started
writing this
story about
a police dog
that was
enjoying
life in
retirement
as much as
she had
enjoyed
police work.
Unfortunately,
shortly
after my
interview
with
Jonathan, Chessie died
in her sleep
after a
brief battle
with cancer.
Philemon,
who has
11years of
experience,
is one of
two law
enforcement
officers in
the county
with drug
training.
Scott
Stroud, with
the Union
County
sheriff's
department,
trained Chessie, but
Philemon
also had to
go through
training to
be
a dog
handler. He
and Chessie
received
certification
as a K9
handling
team in
Wilmington.
They worked
throughout
Union
County.
Chessie was
protective
of Philemon
and would
bark if he
was outside
of the
patrol car
without her.
The dog
becomes
"your
partner,
your best
friend," he
said.
"Spending 12
hours a day
together we
had our own
bond."
Although
police dogs
are
working
dogs, they
are still
dogs. So,
when they
weren't
working, Chessie
would find
water for a
swim or
chase
squirrels
and rabbits.
When it came
time for Chessie to
retire, she
adapted
quickly.
"She loved
it,"
Philemon
said. "She
went
literally
from working
every day
that I
worked to
being able
to stay home
and relax."
Philemon
said in all
the cases
that he
knows of,
the handler
has kept the
dog upon
retirement.
The police
department
is having
Chessie
cremated and
will return
the ashes to
Jonathan and
Suzanne
Philemon. "I
will never
forget her
as she
watched
over
me many
nights
riding
around in
her patrol
car,"
Philemon
wrote on his Facebook
page.
"God has
one more
angel."
submitted by
Jim Cortina,
Dir. CPWDA
Please email
photo of
Chessie ...
loulou5858@comcast.net
Jonathan
Philemon, a
Union County
Sheriff's
deputy
Read more
here:
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/02/22/3021914/retired-police-dog-spent-half.html#storylink=cpy
In Loving
Memory of
K9 CINDY (
MWD )
January 21,
2012
Handler:
MWD Cindy
H379
Osan Air
Base
South
Korea CANCER .....
NEED MORE
INFORMATION.....
Memorials
to Fallen K-9s 
