 Memorials
to Fallen K-9s 2004 page 22 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
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In Loving Memory of
July
6, 2004K-9 BO  Partner: Sgt. James Bernardi Madera County Sheriff's Dept. 14143 Road 28 Madera, CA 93638 PH: Email Address:* sheriff@thegrid.net
submitted by Jim Cortinia, Dir. CPWDA |
K-9 dog for Mountain
Area suspect apprehension dies By David Richards - editor@sierrastar.com Sgt. Bernardi and "Bo" One of the Madera County Sheriff's K-9 dogs died yesterday after serving the Mountain Area for the past five years in suspect apprehension. "Bo," the only Rottweiller of Madera County's five K-9 dogs, died Tuesday morning while on shift with his partner, Sgt. Jim Bernardi, said Erica Stuart, public information officer for the Madera County Sheriff's Department. "None of it makes any sense," Stuart said. "There was no sign, no indication. The dog was literally at the top of his game." Stuart said Sgt. Bernardi and Bo attended a K-9 training session late Monday night and everything appeared to be fine. On Tuesday morning, while on shift, "Bo" reportedly laid down, then went to sleep while in Bernardi's patrol unit. Stuart said Bernardi found that odd because it was a work day and because "Bo" seemed to be lively and had been jumping around that morning. Repeated attempts by Bernardi to wake "Bo" were unsuccessful. Stuart said it is unclear to why the K-9, estimated to be about 5 years old, died, but added that a heart attack is one possibility. "The one thing about "Bo" is that he loved as hard as he worked," Stuart said. "Kids loved him and he loved them. He never barked or growled, but he could catch a criminal on command. Not one of them could ever out run him. Don't even try it, just stay put. It will be a whole lot easier." Madera County Sheriff's K-9 history Madera County's K-9 Unit began in 1963, launched by Deputy Jess West and his K-9 partner, a bloodhound named "Cheyenne." Until K-9 Bo's untimely and tragic death, his partner, Sergeant Jim Bernardi, headed up the pack with five full-time working K-9s - three assigned to the foothills of Eastern Madera County and two patrolling the Valley floor. The Sheriff's K-9 Unit is unique in that not every dog that comes to this department arrives with a hefty price tag. In 1998, for example, an Oakhurst resident made a generous donation to Sgt. Bernardi. That year, Bernardi was blessed with a Rottweiller named "Barron," who dedicated four years of service to the county. While the names and breeds of K-9s have changed through the years, the K-9 mission to find qualified dogs hasn't. As Sgt. Bernardi often says, "If he loves to play, chances are you've got the makings of a true K-9." For decades the Madera County Sheriff's Department has maintained a steady stream of highly-skilled hounds. But maintaining the program doesn't come cheap. There are food tabs, vet bills and weekly training missions, just to name a few - financed almost entirely by the deputies themselves. In fact, one deputy put a second mortgage on his home just to stay on the team, keep his K-9 on the force and the program afloat. Despite the economic hardship, Madera County deputies have successfully found ways to keep the K-9 Unit going and meet yearly certification requirements for 40 years. "Our department," says Deputy Scott Jackson, "has been graced with almost as many K-9s as the program has been in operation." Former K-9s "Max," "Major," "Jordi" and "Jed" were often called upon to meet and greet students at "Career Day" functions or strut their stuff during community demonstrations. There was "Lance," managed and trained by Deputy Roy Broomfield (now assigned to the department's on-campus deputy program) and "Otto," a gentle giant and perfect companion, remembers Deputy Larry Rich. "He was faithful, trusting and kind." Other agile K-9s like "Skipper," who helped Sergeant Chuck Reiring revamp the unit in 1983. "Bubba" ("Bo's" great-grandfather) and "Kino," two dogs trained by then Sergeant, now Lt. Steve Smith. Sgt. Bernardi, one of the longest standing members of the K-9 Unit, has trained dozens of dogs through the years, including one of his first partners, "Bear." "The team has not only grown in numbers," said Sheriff John Anderson, "keepers of the K-9 Unit have expanded the program to include K-9 expertise in fields of scent tracking (both air and ground), as well as cadaver, narcotic and evidence searches." K-9 "Bo" along with other department K-9s like "Rudy" and "Hasso" and "Rocky" and "Zak," as well as Lt. Smith's former partner, K-9 "Keno," received numerous commendations for the critical roles they play in manhunts and pursuits. Sgt. Bernardi announced Tuesday that since K-9 "Bo" could never be replaced, he is stepping down as team leader. Although his replacement has not been announced, Stuart said K-9 Deputy Scott Jackson is under consideration. Jackson's partner K-9 "Rudy," the department's only cross-trained dog in the fields of evidence and suspect apprehension, is credited with making a number of felony arrests since joining the force. K-9 "Bo" leaves behind his band of "brothers." They include: Drug sniffing K-9s "Zak" (a Springer Spaniel handled by Deputy Tyson Pogue); K-9 "Rocky" (a chocolate Labrador Retriever handled by Deputy Jeremiah Woods); K-9 "Rudy" (a Belgian Malamar); and suspect apprehension K-9 "Hasso" (a German Shepherd handled by Deputy Landy Peterson). Erica Stuart, public information officer of the Madera County Sheriff's Department, contributed to this report. |
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| In
Loving Memory of K-9 RICO July 20, 2004  Partner: Deputy Rodney Hamilton Special Operations Pima County Sheriff Office 1750 E. Benson Hwy. Tucson, AZ 85714 520 741.4600
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Rodney
Hamilton, a Deputy with Pima County SO
(Rich Pettitt's old Department) lost his dog last night. Great dog and a great handler. Rodney is a Certifying Official with NPCA. Rodney Hamilton and his K9 Rico were searching for a suspect this evening, there had been a pursuit down in Green Valley as Rodney was coming in for training tonight so he went down to help. Anyway the guy bails from the motorcycle and heads into the desert. When Rodney arrives at the scene he starts a scout with the other officers as backup. After 4-5 minutes of searching the dog gives a strong alert( the bad guy is wanted for driving a stolen motorcycle and couple of outstanding warrants for agg assault on a sheriff's officer in Nebraska) Rodney deploys the dog. The dog heads off into the brush after a minute or so the officers hear a loud thump near the highway, Rico was struck by a passing car. It appears the suspect doubled back and crossed the highway with Rico not far behind him. Rico died at the scene. We spent the next three hours searching for the suspect with no luck, but we're not through yet we think he might be staying somewhere in the area apparently he has a female companion with him, she wasn't on the bike but there clothes and stuff were tied to the bike so will a start search the area in the morning. How's Rodney doing, not good. He's taking it pretty hard, I think the hardest part was telling his youngest daughter about Rico's passing, she was pretty attached to him. Steve Teresa Wilson, Grants & Planning Supvr. submitted by Ronald Labarriere & Dick van Leenen & Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA |
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| In Loving Memory of K-9 NIKITA date?  Partner: SAR... Mayfield, KY |
Cadaver
dog killed By: CJ Cassidy MAYFIELD, KY --An Emergency Response team in Western Kentucky suffered a devastating loss this weekend; one that could take them a while to overcome. The Purchase Area K-9 Search and Rescue Squad lost their 4 1/2 year old dog, Nikita, after she was hit by a truck. "She wanted me to be proud of her; she worked really hard to please me," Beth Inman, Nikita's handler says. Nikita, a Belgian Malinois, did more than please her handler; as a member of the search and rescue squad, Nikita performed a rare service... sniffing out dead bodies. "She's been used on numerous occasions where we've required her assistance," Mayfield Police Officer, Captain Steve Hendley says. He volunteers for the rescue squad, and points out it was thanks to Nikita they found a body in a house that burned down in Clinton, last December. Nikita also stayed out with her handler on a boat for more than a month when two Paducah pilots disappeared over the Tennessee river last summer."It's going to be a great loss because of her job performance, and because of what she did, and this was not just benefiting Mayfield and Graves County but the surrounding counties and surrounding states," Hendley says. The Rescue Squad bought Nikita with donation money, for about $6,000 two years ago. Now members hope they will be able to collect enough money to buy another cadaver dog, even though Beth Inman says shell always have a special place in her heart for Nikita. "I can't tell you what a good job she did. She was perfect and I hope to have another one just like her; it will be hard to replace her. She was such a good dog," Inman says. Nikita was buried shortly after she died. Her teammates say unfortunately they couldn't give her the same burial that would have been given a police dog because of the lack of funds. submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA continue on page 23 of 2004 memorials |