awwww....

Out of respect for the situation, I'd like to clarify that my reference to this loss is to the Officer/Handler and the dog.   A K9 unit is always a team.

Dogs are often so heroic. There have been so many dogs who fought for our country in wars like WWII. I meet so many people who don't know that fact. Many US soldiers were distraught when they were forced to leave their loyal companions in Viet Nam. More than 4,000 dogs served our country in Viet Nam and over 500 were killed during combat.

Here's another recent one where he left his partner in the car all day in the hot Arizona Sun....He got 2 days suspension without pay???


Friday October 19, 2007

CHANDLER, AZ. The following is a written statement released by Police Chief Sherry Kiyler:

“The Chandler Police Department has completed its internal investigation regarding Sgt. Tom Lovejoy and the death of K9 Bandit. As a result of this investigation Sgt. Tom Lovejoy will serve a 2-day suspension without pay due to conduct unbecoming and neglect of duty. In the best interest of the community, and our organization, it would be inappropriate to allow him to remain in a K-9 assignment; therefore he will also be removed as the K-9 Sgt. and be reassigned.

“We continue to be saddened by the tragic loss of K9 Bandit. My responsibility has been to ensure a complete, thorough and fair investigation into this incident; and that has occurred. Throughout this investigation Sgt. Lovejoy has accepted full responsibility for his actions and continues to be a valued employee of the Chandler Police Department.

Chief Sherry Kiyler
Chandler Police Department





































     

JXP - Most people do not realize the sacrifice of military dogs - I really appreciate that you do. It is so heartwrenching what happened in Vietnam but the dogs are all heroes.   Our government has said it will never allow that type of thing to happen again in war time - I just wish I could believe the promise.

   TS - Thank you for the article - How a handler could allow this to happen is absolutely mindboggling. We had an incident this past summer when an officer had to report to the station and per standard procedure, left his car running with his K9 inside and the air conditioner on. The car broke down, stopped running and the dog died before the officer could be alerted what had happened.
   
      It got me thinking seriously, there should be some type of device or alarm for these cars, not just for K9 units but all different kinds of uses where the vehicles unintended shut-off could cause harm. Maybe there is but I've not been able to find out.

        Thank you both for your comments.   Jake

The update on the Delaware boy is that he was very troubled, had just been picked up by DSP for drugs, etc., and fled. His running in Ky was almost certainly because he knew the trouble at home would take him to prison for sure and the gas theft was his ticket to jail.   He and the other boy stole the car from the second boy's parents, apparently, and it was reported as stolen as well.

    There is speculation and some evidence to suggest that he intentionally slammed into the police car that was sitting on the side of the road with intent to harm.

   KY is asking to try the teenagers as adults and is seeking the death penalty for capital murder of a police officer...