Police department loses its canine  - By Kevin ZImmerman/Staff Writer
Unlike most police dogs, Andy knew when he was “on the clock” and when he was kicking back with his family.
“He was a great police dog and at home he was a great pet,” said K-9 Officer Dave Leo. “He knew if I came out of the house dressed in my uniform we were going to work.”  Over the weekend, Andy, who had served with the police department since September 2004, died.
It was business as usual Friday night, when Leo and Andy, a 6-year-old German shepherd, were called to the China Mountain restaurant on Tyngsboro Road after a reported break-in.
Andy tracked the suspect into a swampy area behind the building. When the alleged robber refused to surrender, Leo sent Andy in after him. One bite from Andy and the suspect was out of the swamp.
“We never would have found the guy without Andy,” said Police Chief Jim Murphy.
It was another suspect collared by the K-9 pair, but while in the swamp Andy may have caught something else. On Saturday, Andy started to act strangely and Leo suspected something was wrong. Leo took his partner to a veterinarian in town. There, doctors discovered Andy’s vital signs were weak and his intestine was enlarged. They advised Leo to take Andy to Nashua, N.H., where he could be operated on.
But doctors in Nashua told Leo the infection had progressed too far and there was nothing they could do for Andy.  “There’s a lot of bad guys who are probably happy to hear that Andy is gone,” said Leo.
With drug dealers, merchandise is usually stashed in an electronic hide — a spot somewhere on the vehicle that can be opened only through the flick of a switch or push of a button. Andy always seemed to locate the cache.  Leo and Andy were involved in hundreds of searches and were extremely successful in locating suspects and drugs, said Murphy.  But area police departments also praised Andy for his work when called on to help locate a missing child, said Murphy.  “We got accolades from every department in the area where he assisted,” said Murphy. “He was well respected as a canine dog. A lot of that credit goes to Officer Dave Leo.”  Murphy and Leo have already talked about finding a new dog for the force.
A second dog would be less of an investment, said Murphy, because Leo’s vehicle is already equipped
for K-9 work.  “Hopefully the next dog will be as good as the last one,” said Leo. “He was a good dog from day one. He’s going to be missed.”  evin Zimmerman can be reached at chelmsford@cnc.com.
another incident:
Chelmsford -A loud tailpipe piqued a police officer’s interest and led to the driver’s arrest after a short chase to his Lowell apartment Saturday.  Sgt. Paul Cooper noticed the noise coming from 32-year-old Mark Napolitano’s car, and ran a check on the vehicle’s license plates, according to Deputy Police Chief Scott Ubele.“The listing came back showing that the motor vehicle plates were revoked for lack of insurance,” said Ubele.  So Cooper followed Napolitano’s car into the parking lot for D’Angelo Sandwich Shop in Drum Hill, and pulled him over, Ubele said.  As backup arrived, police received word there was a warrant for Napolitano related to a plea he made in a 1999 rape case, Ubele said.  “He apparently did not live up to his part of the bargain,” said Ubele.  Officers at the scene opened the door to the car and tried to get Napolitano out, but he fled, Ubele said.  He put it in drive and left the scene,” said Ubele.  Dispatch sent for K-9 Officer Dave Leo and his dog Andy. 
Leo arrived at the scene after a short car chase that ended when Napolitano’s white, roughly 20-year-old Chevrolet Celebrity slid across the slippery parking lot and into a Laundromat, Leo said.
“From what the guys told me, he was driving like a horror show,” Leo said.
After the crash, Cooper’s cruiser slid into Napolitano’s car and officer Edward Quinn scuffed the bumper of another parked car in the parking lot.  Napolitano, who lives next to the Laundromat ran up the stairs to his third floor apartment, said Deputy Ubele.  Police followed him up with the landlord and tried to use a key to open the door, Leo said.  “Every time they tried to turn the deadbolt, he would turn it back, locking it,” Leo said.  When police had enough of that exchange, they gave the man warning and kicked in his door, Leo said.
Napolitano was arrested and charged with failure to stop for police, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, operating a motor vehicle after license revoked, operating a motor vehicle reckless to endanger, failure to keep left while passing and failure to stop for a stop sign.  Icy conditions were responsible for the car crashes, which ended the pursuit, Ubele said.  A few hours later, around 6:30 a.m. Sunday, a man driving a 2006 Chevy pickup ran a stop sign and crashed into Lt. Dan Ahern just outside Chelmsford High School, Ubele said.
That driver was cited for failure to yield, said Ubele.
Staff Writer Andy Metzger can be reached at 978-371-5745 or at ametzger@cnc.com.
submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA

Dog's Best Friend - War Injury Doesn't Stop Man's Desire To Train K9 Unit Dogs

  Shawn Parker has always had a dog by his side. The 29-year old Laurens County man says when he was just five, he was raising a wolf/German Shepherd mix.  So in 2006 when Parker found himself in Afghanistan leading a Canadian Special Forces unit (CSF), he was glad to have Alex, a Belgian Malinois Shepherd, by his side.  Alex was the elite K9 explosives dog in the unit. Of the four war dogs and their handlers stationed with the CSF 3rd Group, Alex was the favorite.  "Everyone wanted my dog!," said Parker. "He was the best. He was trained to detect the faintest odor - even from the smallest particle of explosives buried in the ground. I trained him to be better than the others. He had to be. Even my commander wanted him. But he was my dog, and he was going to come home with me after our tour."
But Alex didn't come home with Parker. On March 19, 2007, while searching for IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices), Alex stepped on a pressure plate which had been wired some distance from the odor he was alerting towards. Alex was killed instantly, and Parker was maimed so severely no one expected him to survive the night.
My dog had to be the best
Parker grew up with two influences - dogs and the military. The son of a soldier, Parker decided to join the Marine Corps at the age of 18. After the corps, he went to Louisiana to enroll in a three-month long K9 certification course. Instructor Roger Abshire of US Canine was impressed that Parker completed the course about two months ahead of schedule.  Needing to earn an income, Parker decided to enlist with the Army for a combat tour in Iraq. At the end of the 11-month tour with the 48th brigade-2121 infantry, Parker again faced a career choice. He became certified as a bounty hunter, but it still wasn't the duty he knew he was intended to do.   "I knew two things, dogs and combat," said Parker. "I thought how do you become good at killing? I didn't enjoy the killing...I enjoyed the work. So when I got out, I found Roger again and worked with him in Texas training dogs as well as the K9 handlers. "
Training dogs for K9 service 
Training dogs for K9 service involves four basic elements Parker explained.  "Tracking, narcotics, explosives and patrol," said Parker. "You look for a dog that is attentive, focused and obedient. The training appears intense, but it's not about aggression. It's about that dog learning what is expected of him and waiting for my command."  Parker considering combining his knowledge of K9s and the military, so he applied to become a handler through several K9 war dog organizations.  "I wanted to redeploy to take care of my family," Parker said. It would be good money. A two-year tour as a certified K9 handler with a war dog would earn Parker just under $250,000. However since he was no longer active military, he was passed over.
"I applied with American K9 and had listed Roger Abshire as a reference," Parker recalled. "After he talked to them they called me up. They were having trouble by that time keeping enough certified handlers. They weren't suppose to hire me, but Roger told them I have three years experience, combat service and that I knew exactly what I was doing. So they waived their own rules and told me to report to Ft. Benning where I got my CRC (civilian certification) and I was on my way."
When Parker arrived in Afghanistan, he was assigned as a civilian handler to a Canadian Special Forces unit. Three handlers and four dogs were on site.
"When I first met Alex I didn't like him. I thought he was too 'cracked out'," Parker recalled with a smile. "He was full of himself. He was still a puppy. So the commander brought me another dog to consider, but he didn't have it, and I was partial to Belgians, so I said, 'give me Alex, I'll work with him.'
"I pushed him, just like I've always pushed myself," Parker said. "My dog, like me, had to be the best."
As Parker began training Alex, all day, every day, he began to see the dog's natural talent. The other handlers had a jump start with their K9s, but with Parker's intensive training, he felt Alex had surpassed the other K9s. Still, the men in the CSF group didn't trust Parker. They questioned his creditability, his dedication and his dog.  "The called us out to a test field and the commander had buried a tiny little piece of residue in the field. We were suppose to find it. I released Alex and he worked the field, but he didn't pick up on anything. I felt like a fool."  The commander and some of the guys watching began to leave, when suddenly Alex alerted on the odor. "I called them back and held up a one inch piece of deck cord," Parker said. "Is this what you were looking for?," Parker asked.  "One time they had us test searching," Parker said, "Alex hit on a IED outside of the field they didn't even know was there," Parker laughed. Alex had proven Parker was right, and together they won the trust of the unit.  "From then on every mission we worked outside the wire (home base), they wanted Alex over the other K9s," Parker said. "They all wanted my dog, even the commander! But I told them 'no way'. We were a pair." Parker even made plans to bring Alex home with him after his contract ended. "It's dangerous work, but when you have a K9 like Alex by your side, you know you're with the best," Parker said, "and the money was good." Parker planned to stay in Afghanistan for two years, earning good money and gaining Alex as his partner in the process.
The fatal mission
"The woke me up about three a.m. that morning, March 19, 2007, and said we had a mission outside the wire," Parker recalled. "I went through our routine: check weapon, ammo, gear, water for me and Alex, and I got my dog. He saw me with my gear on and he was ready to go.
"In the mission briefing, the commander asked me what route I wanted to take. We planned it and headed out. Alex alerted on three or four IEDs and we concluded our mission, "Parker said.
"When we returned, they asked if I still had my Alex with me. One of the unit's vehicles had hit an IED and overturned about 60 ft. away. They wanted us to check the surrounding area for more IEDs before they went in to get it," Parker said. "I always followed our routine, starting hThree handlers and four dogs were on siteim on a two ft. lead...back and forth...called him back and put him on a six ft. lead...back and forth again, then an eight ft. lead. When I knew we had an eight ft. clearance, I'd release him. That's what we did that day."
But Parker doesn't recall what happened after they headed toward the vehicle. He's learned what happened next from Cpl. Josh Anderson, a Canadian airborne medic on duty.
"He said we took three or four steps and Alex alerted on an odor. He said Alex was still on a very short lead, so it must've happened just as we started."
Alex was heading toward his target, the strongest odor as Alex had trained him to do. That's when Alex stepped on an anti-personnel pressure plate - wired to an IED buried a few feet away.
The explosion was so severe, Parker was thrown 50 ft. away. The soldiers 60 ft. away were also thrown back, some taking shrapnel. There was nothing left of Alex.
A battle to survive
The first memory Parker has is realizing he was in an ambulance somewhere between Macon and Atlanta. After the explosion he had emergency surgery just to stabilize him, then he was airlifted to Germany, fast-tracked stateside and hospitalized in Washington, DC, before his family had him transferred to Georgia.
"Apparently, I was so bad off that when I got to Macon, the nurses were told not to bother even drawing blood. They thought I would be dead in a couple of hours, but somehow I stayed alive," Parker said. "I was in a medically induced coma for a long time, and they told my wife if I came out of it, I may wake up in two or three weeks, but I'd likely be a vegetable. I woke up the next day! Always pushing myself, even then." Parker laughed.  arker had suffered a closed-head trauma. The left side of his body had taken the brunt of the blast. His left ear virtually melted and left him with total hearing loss in that ear. His face lined with scars, his eye left partially blind. His left hip and thigh had a gaping wound the size of a dinner plate. He would have multiple surgeries in the weeks ahead. They removed 38 pieces of rock from me, shrapnel, dirt, everything you can imagine," Parker said, "even some of Alex's remains."
He was admitted to Atlanta's Shepherd Center, which specializes in brain injury and rehabilitation. The once active, avid reader who enjoyed writing had to learn to walk again, as well as to speak and read. Today, he must still focus when reading and finds he becomes very frustrated. For three months, Parker remained in intensive medical care. Through it all, he kept asking where Alex was. "Finally a friend I knew since we were in the Marine Corps together told me what happened to Alex," Parker said. "The doctors got mad at him thinking it would send me over the edge. It did send me over the edge, but he knew I would want to know rather than wonder any longer." Near the end of his three month hospitalization, Parker received a gift that may have been the best therapy yet: a 7-year old retired American K9 war dog named Rex.
An old dog teaches new tricks
Driving past Parker's West Laurens County home, one may see what appears to be a dog attack. However, it's Parker 'working' Rex. When Parker pulls out a K9 bite bar protective arm sleeve, Rex, now an old dog of 8 years, still knows it's time to jump into action. Parker's face turns from stern trainer to a warm smile as he settles Rex down to sit by his side."I work him and he thinks he still has it," Parker jokes, " but he lets me know when he's had enough."Neighbor Shane Lackey comes by to work his shepherd, Doc. The former military medic is also a K9 handler."I was out working my dog one day and Parker came over and said 'what are you doing?'. Just so happens there's two war dog handlers on this block."Lackey and Parker talk about organizing K9 demonstrations in Laurens County, and would like to host the first regional Schutzhund competition and exhibition for tracking, protection and obedience.However, Parker hasn't had his fill. He hopes to continue to train K9s at his home. He says he has ample property and he's still current on his training certification.
"I just need about five kennels, 8x10 or 10x10 and the funds to buy the training gear, which runs about $2,500, and of course I need some good dogs to start with," he says. "I'm looking for a few Belgian Malinois at least a year old. Know where I can find one?" he asked."I am certified to train K9s for police, search, drug, explosives and patrol, just like before...and I can train a personal pet quicker than most anyone," Parker says with humble confidence."I've still got some medical issues, like they say I have PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) and I've had a couple of seizures. They still don't know what all may be wrong in here," Parker said pointing to his head. "But the psychiatrists are amazed. They all say I shouldn't be where I am mentally or emotionally only a year after the incident." Parker says the government is paying for his medical care: daily medications he must take the rest of his life, therapy and what he says is "the least amount monthly they can get by with." He says he's been told since he was under a civilian contract, he may not be eligible for a settlement from the government. But Parker says since the government waived their requirements and contracted him, he feels he should be entitled to a 'big worker's compensation' and loss of potential income as a K9 war dog handler.  "That day I lost more than Alex. I lost my job and I lost my family," says Parker who is facing the life of a single man again. "The only peace I've found is with the dogs. So I do what I know best. The best therapy for me is with the dogs. "
07/11/08 - Terry Wolf 

Handler: Deputy John Cook
Spokane County Sheriff's Office
Valley Precinct
12710 E Sprague
Spokane WA 99216
PH: (509) 477-3300   (509) 477-5980
email: sheriff@spokanecounty.org

Need info

submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA
 

photo - help

Handler: Gregg Scully 
Norwalk Police Department
One Monroe Street
Norwalk, Connecticut 06854
Tel # 203-854-3000
 (phoned for .jpg)
Requiem for a crime dog
(SLIPPED DISC EUTHANIZED) 
After sustaining a spinal injury during a mid-May training exercise, Axel still wanted to go to work. When his handler, police officer Gregg Scully, got ready to drive to work, the 6-year-old German shepherd would pop his driver's side door open by shoving his snout under the handle. Then the 90-pound dog, trained for patrol and narcotics duty, would use his long nose to swing the door open and jump in. Despite Axel's willingness to work and ability to mask his pain, Scully said he knew his dog, which he began living with last October, was hurting and may have to be put down. 
"I knew he would let me know when it was time," Scully said. That time came faster than he imagined. On June 14, Axel, who spent almost five years as a certified Norwalk police dog, was euthanized, Sgt. Andre Velez said. Axel came to Norwalk from the Czech Republic without training, said Velez, who commands the department's K-9 Unit. With the loss of Axel, the unit now has four police dogs. Axel was trained by Norwalk police officer Frank Holland, a master trainer with the North American Police Work Dog Association, who kept the dog until Holland's disability retirement last year. 
Axel also was set to retire, but Holland told Velez that the dog really wanted to work, and offered him to another handler. When Axel was turned over to Scully, they made an immediate connection. "From the first day I got him we bonded," Scully said adding, "The way Axel was trained, you will never see another dog like him." Right after the two were certified to work together near the end of December, they were put on a drug investigation with another law enforcement agency. 
In a rural area - Scully wouldn't say where because the case is under investigation - Axel found a stash of crack cocaine worth $50,000. On the job, Axel was "phenomenal," Scully said. "There was no off switch for him." Axel would do his commands at "100 miles per hour." Many times before he finished uttering a command, Axel was already doing it, Scully said. At home, Scully said, Axel was "comical" and at times, including when he would sit down and watch television, seemed almost human. 
"Whatever you were doing, he wanted to be a part of," Scully said. Axel's police career ended during a Hamden training session, Velez said. On May 12, Axel was training to chase down a suspect with a large head start. Being an energized dog with explosive speed, Axel hit a trainer hard, spinning the man around. While Axel was in mid-air with his teeth locked on the man's arm, he slammed into a vertical metal beam, Velez said. A short time later, Scully called Velez to tell him Axel was dragging a hind leg and both rear paws were turned down, indicating he was hurt. 
A veterinarian found that he had an acutely slipped disc. During a second examination, a veterinary specialist also discovered that Axel was suffering from an unrelated degenerative disease, which would probably have limited his career to only two or three more years, Velez. With a positive outcome through surgery far from certain, the specialist recommended euthanizing the dog, Velez said. Once full of energy and playfulness, Axel soon was doing little more than laying down next to Scully or in his own bed. 
And when Axel began yelping in pain, Scully knew it was time for him to be put out of his misery, he said. Velez said that he wants to replace Axel, but the funds are not available. The past three police dogs have been paid for using money forfeited from drug dealers and other criminal enterprises. Those accounts are budgeted and there isn't enough left over to get another dog, Velez said. Velez said that he hopes to raise the $12,000 needed to buy and train a new dog through the department's K-9 Donation Fund. "The public has always been extremely supportive and generous when they see we have needs," Velez said. - Anyone interested in donating to the K-9 fund can call 854-3197.  submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA

Southaven police dog was working until the very end
Southaven Police patrol and narcotics dog Arras, an 8-year-old Dutch Shepherd, died of cancer last week. 
The first day Arras was a member of the Southaven Police Department, he captured a suspect. That was six years ago, and since then he helped nab 50 to 60 criminals. "He was a real pro from day one and would just help us hunt down bad guys and sniff out drugs," Lt. Brad Chism said. "He was great."Arras, a patrol/narcotic dog, died last week from cancer complications. The Dutch Shepherd was 8 years old. "It happened so suddenly," said Chism, Arras' handler. "The good thing is he didn't suffer. We are still in shock that he is gone. Everybody is upset."
Chism said even on the day he died, Arras was ready for work. "We had a call in Horn Lake to catch two suspects, and Arras went out there and in 15 minutes caught them," Chism said. After the suspects were arrested, Chism said he noticed Arras wasn't himself. "Last Saturday, we took him to the vet and they said he had a liver infection and was given some medicine," Chism said. "Monday, when we took him back, they found the cancer. It had spread to his liver and spleen, and he had to be put down."
This is the second police dog Chism has lost. Bach, a 4-year-old German Shepherd, died on the job from a heart attack after he ran down a robbery suspect. "Bach died on April 11, 2002," Chism said. "I remember it like yesterday." Chism said Bach is buried at Saucier Park near City Hall. Arras was buried Monday on a plot at the Southaven Police Department gun range in an area that has been designated as a memorial for police dogs. "We are planning a memorial service for Arras and will get him a headstone and everything," Chism said. "I have two other dogs and they are looking for Arras to come home. Everybody in my family is grieving for him." Chism said Arras was one of four in Southaven's canine unit. The department has begun the process of looking for a new dog. "It is hard to replace him, because he was more than just a pet," Arras said. "We had a bond that will be hard to duplicate." submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA
call:  662-393-8654  heard from :  Linda Taylor 

help with photo
Handler: Officer John Griffin
Jamestown Police Department
(emailed NY)

(help with information please....)

submitted by Jim Cortina

“The more people I meet, the more I like my dog."

Anouska came into our home during the summer of 2005.  We were very excited because she was the “first female" Malinois of all the other "K-9 HEROS" we had over the years. She was not a young dog by any means. She was 7 years old.  It turns out that her previous owner had abused her. We were the “fortunate” and “honored” ones who rescued her.  I will never understand how anyone could do that to such a loving and caring dog, or any dog for that matter.

In the beginning, it was very difficult for Anouska or “Nushy” as my wife and I called her, to accept the love and praise that we gave her, but we never stopped and never gave up.  Anouska and I attended 17 weeks of Patrol and Explosive School together.  There was one advantage in her favor.  Of the 16 other dogs in our class, Anouska was the only female.  The other dogs loved her….and all of the other handlers did also.   After graduation, I met many people who knew Anouska years before and I can't tell how many said, "No way is that the same dog... she looks so happy!”   She was a happy and loving partner.

Anouska loved going to work every day....sometimes even more than her partner. She was the only dog I ever had that didn't bark at anyone who asked for directions.  I know how many of you can relate to that....and she will never know how much I appreciated that too.

“Nushy” was always such a good little girl at home.  She was always so well-behaved and added so much joy and happiness into our lives.  She was a “perfect pet” and was definitely a very important part of our family.  We will miss her so much, but we know that she is in a better place now waiting at the Rainbow Bridge. 
submitted by handler, Dave & Wendi

I am numb as I type this...8 years ago I walked into the K9 Training Center not knowing how my life would be changed. As I looked over all of the possible K9 Partners I saw you and our eyes met. I felt from that moment that we looked into each others souls and I knew in my heart that we would be a great team. We had a bond like no other. You excelled in all you did and gave it your all. You were brave, never hesitating to protect me. You stood tall after 9-11 as we stood for hours at our Command Center protecting all who entered. You made me proud as we stood to Honor Fallen K9 Heroes. You made me proud as we stood Guard by The Presidential Helicopter. You made me proud when we received a Department Commendation for your work. You searched so others would be safe. City wide you were known, from the FBI to School Children who thought it was so cool to pet a Police Dog. I was known too...as Arco's partner  You were loved by many and touched many lives. But when we came home at night you were my sweet lovable boy. A part of the family..a part of me..my "Velcro Dog." You made me laugh and you stood by me through good times and bad. This last year I was blessed to be retired with you and enjoyed every moment together. 
Karen & Arco~Forever In My Heart 
14 Feb 1998 ~ 17 May 2008

You looked into my eyes last night on the way to the E-Vet and you again looked into my soul. You knew it was time to go and wanted me to know it was OK. And now I look down by my feet and I don't see you, I turn to touch you and you're not there. A piece of my heart is gone. Your Grandpa misses you too,and when I looked out the window and saw him watering it was not the same without you at his side. 
But even though I can't touch you or see you, I know you are at my side. "Partners Forever"..just temporarily separated by a Rainbow. Be Brave again Arco until I am once again at your side. I love, miss you and you are...
FOREVER IN MY HEART.

AND ALWAYS AT MY SIDE         -     submitted by Karen

Officer kills man during run-in with K-9
A Pittsburgh police officer shot and killed a 19-year-old Allentown man who shot and killed a K-9 dog during a confrontation in Mount Oliver last night. A crowd of angry onlookers, including the victim's family, quickly gathered at the scene in the 1600 block of Arlington Avenue. Dozens of officers also arrived on the scene, some with K-9 dogs, to help keep the crowd under control. The victim's parents identified him as Justin Jackson of the 1500 block of Arlington Avenue. A spokesman for the Allegheny County medical examiner's office confirmed Mr. Jackson had died but said the cause and manner of death would be determined in an autopsy today.
The K-9 dog, named Aulf, was 6 years old and was assigned to an officer who is a 12-year veteran of the police bureau, said Chief Nate Harper. Chief Harper, appearing at a news conference last night at police headquarters, gave this account of the shooting, which occurred shortly before 7 p.m.: The officer, who is a member of the police bureau's street response unit, spotted a man walking down Arlington Avenue with his hand concealed under his jacket.
Believing the man was holding a gun, the officer stopped and told him to pull his hand from his pocket. The officer reported that he saw a gun and released the K-9 to subdue Mr. Jackson. Mr. Jackson shot the dog and the officer immediately fired his weapon at the suspect. Both men fired several rounds, Chief Harper said. The officer, who was not identified, was not wounded in the shooting. At the time of the shooting, Mr. Jackson was on the sidewalk and the officer was standing in the street, Chief Harper said.
The spot where the shooting occurred is just over the city line in the borough of Mount Oliver. Two blocks of Arlington Avenue were closed by police as they investigated. The victim's father, Donald James Jackson, said a police officer told him "our dog got shot so we killed him." "They killed my son execution-style, not in the leg," the older Mr. Jackson said. "I understand things go wrong but I'm sure there's a better way to handle it." Chief Harper said Allegheny County police and the district attorney's office will investigate the shooting. When asked, he said early indications are that the officers acted appropriately. Chief Harper said he met with family members of the victim after the shooting. "It's a very unfortunate incident. Any time a life is lost, it's unfortunate." The chief said it was "a shame the dog also had to sacrifice its life." "The K-9 did what it was trained to do," he said.  Police departments have gone to great lengths to protect their dogs, some even buying them bullet-proof vests, which can cost more than $1,000 each. Pittsburgh police have estimated that each year three or four dogs are injured in scuffles with suspects. In the 1970s, two police dogs were shot when they tried to disarm a hostage taker. They both survived; one retired, the other returned to duty. In November, Aucy James Andrews, 59, of the Hill District, was shot twice by an unnamed K-9 officer near the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Van Braam Street. Police said Mr. Andrews stabbed a fellow tenant in the throat after an argument at his apartment complex, then tried to stab a police dog before approaching the K-9 officer with his folding knife. In September, Steelers quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger began giving grants for police departments to purchase dogs in each town where the football team played. "It's something we decided to do, my foundation is doing, after the police dog in my hometown [of Findlay, Ohio] got shot and killed," Mr. Roethlisberger said at the time. Investigators hope to review the incident on videotape from security cameras placed in the area by UPMC.
submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA & Renee Konias
update:
Police say Knoxville man fired first - By Jill King Greenwood and Michael Hasch- TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Police plan to review surveillance footage of a fatal encounter between two Pittsburgh police officers -- one of them a K-9 officer -- and a Knoxville man with a history of arrests. Cameras outside a University of Pittsburgh Medical Center facility on the border of Knoxville and Mt. Oliver might have captured the Tuesday evening shooting that left Justin James Jackson, 19, dead. Jackson died from a gunshot wound in the head and one in the chest, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office said. The K-9 officer's dog, a 6-year-old German shepherd named Aulf, died of chest wounds at a veterinary hospital. "This needs to stop. The police are using excessive force and killing young black men," said the victim's father, Donald Jackson of the West End. "It doesn't make sense. This is terrible, and I want answers." Fellow officers identified the K-9 officer as Christian A. Sciulli, 34, an 8-year veteran. Police spokeswoman Diane Richards refused to confirm his identity and would not identify the second officer. Both officers were placed on paid administrative leave while authorities investigate, which is standard procedure in police-involved shootings. "They had a horrendous night. They have taken a life and lost a partner," police Chief Nate Harper said during a late-afternoon news conference Wednesday. Sciulli had never shot anyone on the job before, fellow officers said. The District Attorney's Office and county police are investigating. Donald Jackson said witnesses told him his son did not have a gun, and family members said Justin Jackson was not known to carry one. Court records show Justin Jackson had an arrest record on offenses including firearms violations, simple assault and criminal conspiracy. His last arrest was in April 2007, when he was 18, accused of simple assault and a firearms offense. In that case, he pleaded guilty to simple assault and was sentenced to six to 18 months. Records do not show whether he served any jail time. Donald Jackson said his son was trying to turn his life around.
"He was a good kid," he said. "He had some trouble as a juvenile, but he was trying to change things.
Everyone makes mistakes when they're young, but he didn't deserve this."
Justin Jackson was working in construction and studying for his driver's license exam, his father said.
"Justin was a happy, normal kid," said his aunt, Scheryl McCoy, 32, of East Liberty. "I'm speechless that this happened. I just don't know what to say. They shot him because of a dog." The flag outside police headquarters in the North Side flew at half-staff, and some officers wore a black band over their badges to signify they are mourning a fallen officer. Police are planning a memorial service and burial for Aulf on Saturday. Harper called the shooting "an unfortunate" but justifiable action. "The officers acted within the guidelines of policy and procedures," he said. Sciulli and another officer, both in uniform, were driving on Arlington Avenue in a marked police car to respond to a report of shots fired when they spotted Justin Jackson, police said. They stopped because they believed he was carrying a gun, Harper said. Sciulli ordered Aulf to attack after Jackson pulled a .357 Magnum handgun from under his shirt, police said.
Harper said Jackson began "firing at the officers, and the police officers returned fire."
Investigators initially believed that the officers opened fire after Jackson began shooting at the dog.
"They did not realize that the dog had been shot" until Jackson and the dog lay mortally wounded, Harper said. The officers and Justin Jackson fired several shots, investigators said. Aulf was shot in the front legs and chest and pronounced dead on arrival at a veterinary hospital. "The bullet retrieved from the K-9 was consistent with a .357 (Magnum)," Harper said. The gun Jackson was carrying had been reported stolen in a 2006 burglary in Elliott, the chief said. The department has 17 dogs and 12 protective bullet-proof vests that are rotated among the dogs, said K-9 Sgt. Chris Micknowski. Aulf, a 75-pound dog, was not wearing a vest because the dogs normally are outfitted with them only when being sent into situations the officers know are dangerous. A vest weighs about 15 pounds, Micknowski said. "The vests are very heavy and generate a lot of heat on the dogs," Micknowski said. "They aren't something we put on the dogs and leave on them because it wouldn't be practical. If we know we're sending the dog into a situation that is high-risk, we'll put a vest on them. That wasn't the case here. This happened so quick. There was no warning."  Richards said Aulf had been with the city police department for about five years. His first handler had him for about two years and Sciulli since then.  update: 
K-9 Killed In Line Of Duty Remembered
More than 200 police officers from numerous communities gathered to remember a Pittsburgh police K-9, Aulf, a 6-year-old German Sheppard. Aulf was shot and killed in the line of duty Tuesday when city police said Justin Jackson, 19, shot Aulf in Mount Oliver. The dog's handler and another officer returned fire, killing Jackson. As bag pipes played, Aulf was carried in a small white casket into the police academy in East Liberty -- the place where he once trained to be an officer. Funeral services for Jackson will be held in Mount Oliver Tuesday morning. submitted by Jim Cortina
update:
The Pittsburgh police department is getting a new police dog to replace the one killed in the line of duty last week. On Monday, Sen. Jim Ferlo announced the department will receive a $10,000 grant. Last week, 6-year-old "Aulf" was shot and killed by a suspect in Mt. Oliver.That same suspect was later shot and 
killed by officers. submitted by Bobby Earl

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When the AKC has announced the winners of the first Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE) in 2000, Golden Retriever Austin, owned by Officer Jim Minton, of Austin, Texas, was their Search and Rescue recipient.
A classic Cinderella story: A bedraggled stray is turned in to the Greater Houston Golden Retriever Club’s rescue program and, after a few twists of fate, becomes an honored search-and-rescue dog. Austin’s inspiring story culminates in his work at the site of the Texas A&M bonfire collapse that killed 12 people and injured 27 others. According to his handler, Officer Jim Minton, Austin was one important working Golden.
Austin has been on overseas assignments three times and one trip involved us being evacuated out of the region by the U. S. Customs and DEA air wing. This was after thugs had placed a $30,000 price tag on Austin to kill or kidnap him. This is nothing unusual. Drug dogs working the border often face the very same threat.
Austin himself was found and rescued as a puppy from the woods east of Houston, Texas, by hunters. He was then turned over to a Greater Houston Golden Retriever Club’s rescue program , where Texas Hearing and Service Dogs purchased him and provided testing and training before donating him to the Austin Police Department in January 1999. Austin has since been trained to rescue people. On October 28, 2000 
Mayor Kirk Watson proclaimed that date “K-9 Austin Day” for the City of Austin. On November 11, 2000 Austin was inducted into the Texas Animal Hall of Fame.
Austin was certified in Tracking, Cadaver, and Chemical Biological Detection. After Jim retired from the 
Austin Police Department, where Austin was on the job from 1999 to 2004, he and Austin began working
at the Federal Level specializing in Chemical-Biological Detection (2004-2008). Jim Minton, a Senior Law Enforcement K-9 Handler/Instructor and Senior K-9 Chemical-Biological Specialist for U.S. Govt. and U.S. Military Response only. 
A Very Sad Ending
Police K-9 Austin died on February 16, 2008 in his loving handler’s arms. He had been rushed into emergency surgery due to having developed bloat, and managed to survive the procedure. However, shortly after waking up his vitals deteriorated and as Jim so desolately said: Austin looked at me, wide awake and alert, took a deep breath, exhaled, laid his head down, I kissed him, monitors started sounding, and Austin left this cruel world.
submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA

Department honors police dog
Hartsville Police Department K-9 Apache's badge and leash are placed with his urn Tuesday as the honor guard prepares to drape his remains with an American flag during a memorial service at St. Luke Methodist Church in Hartsville. A small crowd gathered at St. Luke’s Methodist Church at sundown Tuesday to mourn the loss of Apache, the first canine officer to join the Hartsville Police Department. Apache died Feb. 16 at his home after a brief illness. His body was cremated. Apache joined the force in May 1997 and was assigned to work with Hartsville Police Lt. Brian Rudick. The two were inseparable until his death, Rudick said. 
Even though his partner has been gone for more than a month, Rudick still clings to the things and the memories he left behind, he said. Every evening, Rudick said he finds himself wanting to go outside and feed Apache. He still has all of Apache’s toys, as well as his water and food bowls, he said. “This is his lead,” Rudick said, clutching Apache’s leather leash. “This is the same lead that we used the entire time we worked together.”  Officers wanted to have a memorial service for Apache because he was with the department for nine years and he was an important part of the force, he said. “I want them to remember how much of a friend he was. You take for granted their service, but an animal chooses to serve. He could have been the worst dog on the planet, but he chose to serve,” Rudick said. The Rev. Tony Medlin, pastor of St. Luke’s, said Apache was greatly appreciated by the Rudick family and the police department. “They (animals) are a part of God’s creation ... we show appreciation in the same way we show appreciation for all life’s blessings,” Medlin said. Humans have a few things to learn from such service animals as Apache, Medlin said. “I think loyalty is the big thing,” he said. “It’s unconditional loyalty (and) the unconditibrian.rudick@hartsville.orgonal part is what we need to learn for ourselves. (Animals) don’t hold grudges. They just love.”

Uniformed officers saluted Apache during the service with  poems and presented a flag to Rudick. The flag and Apache’s urn will be kept in his office at work, Rudick said. “His (Apache’s) whole drive was to be at work,” he said. “It’s just appropriate to take him to work and leave him there.” Apache, under Rudick’s instruction, won awards at the National Field Trials in 1999 and 2003. 
Apache also visited schools, churches and civic clubs to demonstrate his expertise in crime fighting, Hartsville Police Chief Tim Kemp said He also said Apache’s work helped forge a better relationship between the police department and the community.  Apache retired from the force Feb. 14, 2006, because of arthritis and hip problems. submitted by Jim Cortina

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Staff Sgt. Marcus Reaves, a handler in the 78th Security Forces Squadron's Military Working Dog Sections, sits with Arras.  Electrocuted in the line of duty while performing a search mission with Army Personnel (Iraq)
A shadowbox containing the badge, choker chain, medals and flag for Arras, Robins military working dog, will be displayed in the Security Forces building. U. S. Air Force photo by Sue Sapp 
Handler http://www.robins.af.mil/main/contactusemail.asp injured but recovering. 
Robins Air Force Base is the home of Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, the 78th Air Base Wing, and more than 60 other units that make up a vital part of the Air Force war fighting team. It is the largest industrial complex in Georgia, employing a work force of over 25,584 civilian, contractor, and military members. We are proud of our greater community we call Team Robins Plus that includes the remarkable support and friendship we receive from the people of Middle Georgia.         submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA

Akim, former Dixon K-9 officer dies
Former Dixon Police Officer Aaron Dillon kneels next to Akim his K-9 partner of 4 1/2 years. Akim, a Czechoslovakian Shepherd, died of unknown causes on Wednesday. Dillon who now works with the Solano County DA's office, purchased the dog for $1 after it retired. 
Former Dixon K-9 officer Akim, a fluffy Czechoslovakian shepherd, died of unknown causes Wednesday at his owner's home. The owner, former Dixon police officer Aaron Dillon, said the dog's death is shocking. "Everything was fine when I went to work," Dillon said. "But when I wasn't greeted at the door I knew something wasn't right." Dillon, who now works at the Solano County District Attorney's office, found Akim lying in his kennel. Akim retired from the police force five months ago to a have leisurely life at the Dillon residence. Akim celebrated his eighth birthday last month.
"At least he had five months of an easy life," said a heart-broken Dillon at work Thursday afternoon. "I thought I would have at least another four years with him." Dillon and Akim have been inseparable since being paired up five years ago. "I've spent more time with him than my family," Dillon admitted. "I'm still in shock." Dillon said the rest of his family, especially his 5-year-old son, have taken Akim's death very hard. Through the years, Dillon and Akim were an instrumental team on Dixon's police force. 
Together, Dillon and Akim help crack down on narcotics and helped find evidence in certain cases, sometimes spending 13 to 14 hours together each day. In September, Dillon recalled that one of the most memorable times that Akim was helpful in a case was after a robbery of one of the local Dixon bars. Apparently Dillon and Akim didn't start their shift until six hours after the incident occurred, but within minutes, Akim sniffed out and located the loaded handgun used in the robbery. Nonetheless, Dillon said Akim had been enjoying his retirement. In an interview a few months ago, Dillon said Akim was enjoying "laying on the deck and sleeping in the sun." submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA

Retired Hillsboro police dog dies
Apollo, a retired Hillsboro police dog died Sunday at home. He was 11. A German shepherd, Apollo lived with his handler, Hillsboro Police Officer Paul Hess, and was buried at Hess' family farm. The dog died in his sleep from a previously undisclosed heart condition, officials said. Apollo gained fame in law enforcement circles. He and Hess had more than 200 captures in the five years he worked as a Hillsboro Police K9, which is still a record number in Hillsboro. In fact, Apollo appeared in The Oregonian more frequently than Hess, who often made the paper only as Apollo's partner. 
"The most interesting thing about him is that he was just a big, goofy dog," said Lt. Michael Rouches, official spokesman for the Hillsboro Police Department. "He had a different personality. Anything you threw at him, he'd find a way to drag it back. Most dogs will do that, but he'd drag back anything. It could be an old tire. "He had the personality of a lab, which is unusual in a German shepherd," Rouches added. "He was just a delightful, playful dog. He loved going to work. To him, work was like play." Apollo went by the nickname, "Hollywood," and was known for his tracking skills. He retired from the Hillsboro police in 2006. 
submitted by Jim Cortina

10/22/2007 - ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. (AFPN) -- When warriors deploy together to fight the war on terrorism, one doesn't imagine coming home without his partner, but a Robins Air Force Base NCO had to.
Staff Sgt. Marcus Reaves, a military working dog handler in the 78th Security Forces Squadron's military working dog section here, was deployed to Iraq with his canine partner, Arras, when his dog was killed Sept. 25 in the line of duty.
Arras, a 5-year-old Dutch shepherd explosives detector and patrol dog temporarily assigned to the 447th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron and Joint Operations at Sather Air Base, Iraq, died when he was electrified by power cables during a search for weapons and explosives in a building.
The unit honored Arras with a memorial service at the deployed location Oct. 19, and officials at Military working dog dies defending freedom.
The unit honored Arras with a memorial service at the deployed location Oct. 19, and officials at Robins AFB plan to host a memorial service for Arras later this year.
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78th Air Base Wing
The wing provides physical, military and community operations and business infrastructure processes for Robins AFB and its 39 associate units. Responsible for logistics readiness, medical, civil engineer, security, comptroller activities, contracting, morale and welfare, mission support, public affairs, legal civilian personnel and environmental management for the installation.
Vision
World-class warfighter support...anytime, anywhere!
Mission
To deliver global support to the warfighter by providing and deploying trained, combat-ready Airmen and to provide world-class base operating support to Robins Air Force Base.
submitted by Jim Cortina

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