Madisonville, Tennessee - The Monroe County Sheriff's Department is Mourning the Loss of a K-9 Officer Who Drowned Trying to Capture a Suspect

The Monroe County Sheriff's Department is mourning the loss of a K-9 officer who drowned Wednesday while trying to capture a suspect who is still on the run.

According to the sheriff's department, Deputy B.J. Johnson and his partner, K9 Vigor, were tracking a wanted man through the Cherokee National Forest in Tellico Plains.

The deputies had to cross a river in their pursuit, and the strong current over powered both Deputy Johnson and Vigor.

"Deputy Johnson attempted to save his partners life several times but the current was too strong. Deputy Vigor was located down stream and deputies immediately began CPR and unfortunately they were unable to revive Deputy Vigor," according to a post on the department's Facebook page. "Deputy Vigor was a wonderful dog and will truly be missed."

The suspect, Doug Ellis, is still on the run. He is wanted for a violation of probation on charges of kidnapping, aggravated assault, and evading arrest.

The sheriff's department has asked residents of Tellico Plains and Coker Creek to keep an eye out for Ellis, and warns that he may be armed and should not be approached.

If you have any information, you are asked to call the Monroe County Dispatch Center at 423-442-4357.

Tellico Plains and Coker Creek residents please be on the lookout for Doug Ellis. If you see Mr. Ellis please call the Monroe County Dispatch Center 423-442-4357 do not approach we have received information that he is possibly armed. Mr. Ellis is wanted for Violation of Probation. He is currently on probation for kidnapping, agg assault and evading arrest.

Website: Monroe County Sheriff's Office

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A Missing Police K9, "Milo" is Being Sought by Prince William County, Virginia Police – Please Share

Prince William County, Virginia - A missing police K9, "Milo" is being sought by Prince William County police.

Milo was last seen in the area of the 14100 block of Rahill Ct. in Woodbridge around 7:45 p.m. Sunday, police said.

According to authorities Milo ran from his handler as they were returning home after work. Officers have not been able to find the dog and are asking the public to help in the search.

He is described as a friendly dog, police said. Milo is trained to work in and around people and is not aggressive. The dog is actually very shy and may avoid contact at first.

Milo is a small black Labrador weighing 50 pounds with a small patch of white hairs on his chest. He is wearing a choke collar with his service badge and vaccination tag attached, police said. Milo is also wearing a black nylon strap harness that buckles across the top of his back.

Anyone with information on Milo's whereabouts is asked to call police at 703-792-6500 or the Animal Shelter at 703-792-6465.

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A Memorial Service for Canton Police K-9 Jethro, the First of the Department’s Dogs Ever Killed in the Line of Duty, Drew Hundreds from Across the Country

Canton, Ohio - Jethro was shot in killed in the line of duty over the weekend. Police said he was responding to a call of a burglary on Saturday, when he was shot multiple times. He died from his injuries on Sunday. 

The city held a funeral for the German Shepherd Thursday at the Canton Civic Center, on what would have been Jethro's third birthday.

Speakers included the Canton Police chief and the mayor. 

"Jethro's legacy is to remind us all is that bravery and devotion can travel on four legs, and that loyalty and love can be delivered by the playful nudge of a wet nose," Mayor Thomas Bernabei said to those assembled.

K-9 officers from as far away as Virginia and the New York Police Department attended the service. More than 100 K9s from various departments walked in a five and a half minute long procession in front of those gathered.

Jethro's partner, Ryan Davis, was presented with a flag and a fallen officer medal honoring his four legged best friend. At 12:27 pm the department officially declared Jethro's end of watch.

"A lot of people love dogs obviously, and they know the dog is doing it for us and he doesn't really have a choice, so to speak, so I think people really identify with that - that a lot of people have dogs that they believe would do this for them," said Eric Stanbro, the Canton Police K9 head trainer.

Stanbro said to those who may criticize giving a memorial service for a dog, that this was the least the department could do.

"We owe it to them. I believe 100% that without Jethro, today it's Ryan's funeral and not a dog's funeral," said Stanbro.

The suspect, Kelontre D. Barefield, received a gunshot wound to the leg and was taken into custody after being treated. He is being held on $5 million bond.

There is a GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/h8xbvs8s account to pay for Jethro's vet bills and buy new K-9 vests for the department.

"I absolutely think Jethro is a hero. The dog did his job and it's tough to take. And for that  some officers went home safe," said Tim Wilmoth, a canine handler and retired police officer.

The Canton Police Department is not actively seeking donations. However, those that wish to donate can make a check out to the Canton Police Department and write K9 donation on the memo line. Donations and condolences can be sent to the Canton Police Department at 221 3rd St. SW, Canton, OH 44702.

Jethro's Procession

K-9 Jethro is Laid to Rest

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Every Single K9 in the Norfolk, Virginia’s PD Will Be Getting a Lifesaving Ballistic Vest: Thanks to a Donation from Anderson Cooper

On Monday January 11, 2016 the Norfolk, Virginia police department lost one of its bravest members, a K9 named Krijger. The pup was a four-year-old Belgian Malinois. The brave canine officer died during a shootout after officers responded to a domestic violence call.

According to Pilot Online, those close to the pup say that he would have survived had he been wearing a ballistic vest.

These vests are expensive, each one costing roughly $2,200, and most police departments cannot afford them. But, thanks to one very kind, and very famous, good Samaritan, every single dog in the Norfolk PD is about to get one.

Who’s the good Samaritan in question? Anderson Cooper.

The CNN news anchor donated the funds via the Virginia based charity Spike’s K9 Fund. Cooper had previously interviewed the charity’s founder, retired SEAL Jimmy Hatch, in 2015 and the two have stayed in contact.

Hatch announced the donation on Spike’s K9 Fund’s website:

We are humbled to announce that Anderson Cooper has donated his speaking fee for his upcoming “Norfolk Forum” speech (26 January) to Spike’s K9 Fund for the K9 Krijger Ballistic Vest Campaign. His donation was quite generous. All of the Norfolk K9’s will be outfitted and we will start outfitting K9’s from other cities in Hampton Roads with the remainder.

Dogs love us unconditionally and, every day, many of them selflessly risk their lives to protect us. Anderson Cooper did a beautiful thing by donating this money and making sure that they are protected when they put their lives on the line.

You can watch a local news report about Krijger below:

If you would like to help other canine officers obtain a lifesaving ballistic vest, you can donate funds in Krijger’s memory via Spike’sK9 Fund.

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Meet Kiah, the Rescued Pit Bull That Defies The Harmful Stereotype About Her Breed, As She Works to Help Police Find and Protect People

At only 60 pounds, Kiah is not like most other K9 police dogs. She’s also different because she’s a Pit Bull, which are often stereotyped as aggressive monsters used for fighting. Kiah is proving that Pit Bulls can defy these harmful stereotypes and work to help police find and protect people. She’ll be using her excellent nose to track missing persons and detect drugs for the Poughkeepsie Police Department north of New York City.

Kiah comes to the force courtesy of the Animal Farm Foundation, which is a non-profit rescue group trying to put an end to misinformation about Pit Bulls. They partnered with Universal K9, a group that looks through animal shelters for dogs that might make good additions to police forces. They provided Kiah to the Poughkeepsie Police Department at no cost, which is good considering a traditional police dog can cost up to $15,000.

Kiah seems very happy to please her trainers and will act as an ambassador for her breed. She has a home now. Pit Bulls usually have trouble getting adopted because of the stereotypes surrounding them. A shelter dog with a poor chance of being adopted found a place where she belongs, a police department got a free K9 dog to help them, and the people of Poughkeepsie are safer with Kiah on the job. Everybody wins.

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Hyattsville City Police Department's K9, Rudy, Has Received a Bullet and Stab Protective Vest Thanks to a Charitable Donation

Hyattsville City Police Department’s K9 Dog, Rudy, has received a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. The vest was sponsored by an anonymous sponsor and is embroidered with the sentiment “In memory of Mindy”.

  

Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c(3) charity located in East Taunton, MA whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States. The non-profit was established in 2009 to assist law enforcement agencies with this potentially lifesaving body armor for their four-legged K9 officers. Since its inception, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provided over 1,600 protective vests, in 49 states, through private and corporate donations, at a cost of over 1.5 million dollars. All vests are custom made in the USA by Armor Express in Central Lake, MI.

The program is open to dogs actively employed in the U.S. with law enforcement or related agencies who are certified and at least 20 months of age. New K9 graduates, as well as K9s with expired vests, are eligible to participate.

The suggested donation to provide one protective vest for a law enforcement K9 is $1,050. Each vest has a value between $1,795 – $2,234, and a five-year warranty and an average weight of 4-5 lbs. There are an estimated 30,000 law enforcement K9s throughout the United States. For more information or to learn about volunteer opportunities, please call 508-824-6978. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provides information, lists events, and accepts tax-deductible donations of any denomination at www.vik9s.org or mailed to P.O. Box 9 East Taunton, MA 02718.

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Unfortunately, Police Dog Work Can Sometimes Be Deadly: The Surprising Reason More Police Dogs Are Dying in the Line of Duty

By all accounts, Wednesday's encounter between French police and a group of suspected terrorists in the Paris suburbs was an incredibly violent one: 5,000 bullets fired, dozens of grenades thrown, bodies so damaged that at first authorities were unable to say how many people had been killed.

So it's somewhat remarkable that there was only one fatality on the police side of the showdown: Diesel, a 7-year-old Belgian Malinois police dog who was sent into the apartment at one point to check for survivors. The dog was killed when one of the people in the apartment detonated a suicide vest.

Diesel's death sparked a popular hashtag and an outpouring of respect and grief on social media. And it highlighted the role specially trained dogs play in often dangerous law enforcement situations in France, as well as right here in the United States.

It's unclear exactly how many police dogs are active in the United States. Jim Watson, director of the North American Police Work Dog Association, gave a "wild guess" of around 50,000 dogs in 2010. The dogs are deployed to various domestic law enforcement agencies, doing everything from bomb- and drug-sniffing to chasing down suspected criminals.

And, unfortunately, police dog work can sometimes be deadly. The Officer Down Memorial Page, which tracks police fatalities in the line of duty, includes numbers on police dog fatalities as well. Their numbers show that in 2015 so far, 26 police dogs have been killed in the line of duty — a number that's up sharply over the previous two years.

In the most recent incident they've tracked, a dog named Hyco with the Anderson County Sheriff's Office in South Carolina was shot and killed while chasing a group of suspected carjackers. In September, a police dog named Ike in Washington state was stabbed multiple times while attempting to subdue a suspect and had to be euthanized due to the extent of his injuries.

But while a number of dogs have died at the hands of a suspected criminal this year, the ODMP's numbers show that canine officers face an even bigger threat: heat exhaustion, particularly from being left in a squad car on a hot day.

This year alone at least 11 dogs died from heat exhaustion, according to the ODMP. In August, two dogs with the Baltimore City Detention Center died when the air conditioning failed in a vehicle they were in. In Florida, an officer was suspended without pay in May when he inadvertently left two police dogs in a car at his home.

The heat deaths "happen at a pretty alarming rate," said Steve Weiss, an NYPD lieutenant who serves as ODMP's Director of Research. "I was surprised by how often it happens."

Weiss says that many K9 unit vehicles are now being outfitted with electronic systems that automatically regulate heat and humidity. Some systems can alert remote officers if the AC fails or the temperature gets too high, and allow them to immediately pop the trunk or doors to allow dogs to escape. More widespread adoption of these systems would cut down on the heat exhaustion deaths, according to Weiss.

Weiss says better laws protecting police dogs would help too. "The laws in many states involving the deaths of police animals are not very strict," he said. "Every state is different."

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Russia Has Offered to Send an Alsatian Puppy to France in a Gesture of Solidarity After a Police Dog Was Killed During a Raid

Russia has offered to send an Alsatian puppy to France in a gesture of solidarity after a police dog was killed during a raid on jihadists linked to the Paris attacks.

Russia's interior minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev said he had written to his French counterpart Bernard Cazeneuve offering to send a puppy named Dobrynya to replace Diesel, a Belgian Shepherd killed in a huge raid north of Paris last Wednesday.

Kolokoltsev said that as "a sign of solidarity with the people and police of France," he was offering the puppy, which "will be able to occupy the place in service of the police dog Diesel killed during a special operation to neutralise terrorists."

The dog is named after a hero of Russian folk legend, Dobrynya Nikitch, famed for his strength, goodness and courage, he added.

Dobrynya is two months old and lives at a police dog centre in the Moscow region, Channel One television reported. He will have to undergo medical checks and quarantine before going to France.

Two dog-handlers from Moscow police's special forces also posed with their dogs and signs with the hashtag "Je Suis Diesel" on the service's Instagram account.

"Our four-legged friends also serve the police, protecting society from terrorist threats," the Moscow police service said.

The hashtag #JeSuisChien (I am a dog) trended on Twitter after French police announced that seven-year-old Diesel died in the raid targeting Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the suspected ringleader of the November 13 attacks in Paris that killed 130 people.

Three people died during the massive operation at the apartment in Saint-Denis north of Paris -- Abaaoud, his cousin Hasna Aitboulahcen, and a suicide bomber who has yet to be identified.

Seven people arrested during the raid were freed on Saturday.

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The Poughkeepsie Police Department is Adding a New Member to Its K9 Team: A Pit Bull, Named Kiah

The Poughkeepsie Police Department (located approximately 85 miles outside of New York City) is adding a new member to its K9 team – a dog named Kiah.

But what makes this canine so special is the breed. While must dogs that join the police force are German shepherds and Belgian malinois to chase suspects and sniff out drugs, or beagles and bloodhounds to track scents, this police department decided to welcome a pit bull to the team.

Kiah (pronounced KY’-uh) will be used to sniff out drugs and find missing people. It is reported that she is also an ambassador for her breed and police.

“The breed isn’t important,” Brad Croft, a dog trainer for law enforcement agencies and the military, told The AP.  “It’s what’s inside of the dog that’s important.”

Croft rescued the dog from a Texas animal shelter after her previous owner was arrested for animal cruelty. In partnership with Croft’s company San Antonio-based Universal K9, an Austin animal shelter and Animal Farm Foundation, a sanctuary in New York, Kiah was provided to the police department free of charge (often K9-trained dogs can cost up to $15,000.)

Croft told the AP he often looks for dogs in shelter to train for police departments and chose Kiah after a staff member “recognized something special in the dog.”

The dog’s human partner is Officer Justin Bruzgul, who told the AP, “She wants to work. She’s high-energy. Affectionate. I couldn’t ask for a better partner.”

While often pit bulls get bad raps, they are also known to be very sweet, loyal and eager to please. George Carlson, the Ulster County sheriff’s deputy who trained Kiah in Stone Ridge, N.Y. told the outlet he believes she is the only pit bull on the East Cost working for a police department and is a sweetheart. He added,  “Dogs are individuals. They have their own personalities, just like people.”

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A Police Dog from Alabama Died After His Handler Accidentally Left Him in a Patrol Car on a Hot Day

A police dog from Alabama died after his handler accidentally Left him in a patrol car on a hot day when temperatures reached up to 87F.

Mason, three, was left in the backseat of Corporal Josh Coleman's car on Thursday during a hurricane preparation conference in Gulf Shores.

The Gulf Shores Police Department Facebook page shared a photograph of Mason inside the conference center prior to his untimely death.

Temperatures in the area on Thursday were an average of 84F with a high of 87F, according to Weather Underground.

Mason served as the community relations dog for Gulf Shores Police. The department shared a pictured of Mason on its Facebook page just hours before Mason was locked inside the sweltering police vehicle.

"We are at the City of Gulf Shores - Municipal Government Hurricane 
Preparedness Expo! We will be here until 2:00 p.m. Swing by and register for a free coffee mug and say HI to Officer Mason!" the Facebook post said.

Fox reports Mason served as the Community Relations dog for Gulf Shores Police and that the department recently celebrated the pooch’s third birthday on June 9.

Police say because Mason wasn't an enforcement k-9, Coleman's car wasn't equipped with heat alarms, water bowls and other protective measures that would exist in a K-9 handler's vehicle.

When Coleman found Mason in the car, he was in dire shape and seriously dehydrated. Coleman rushed Mason to a vet and the dog was later transferred to an advanced animal facility in Pensacola.

The beloved dog died on Friday at around 11:00 p.m. despite showing some minor improvements that morning.

No criminal charges are being filed but the city and the department are enforcing 'sanctions' against Coleman.

This situation has been devastating for Cpl. Coleman and his family and we hope that they are able to work through their understandable emotions.

"This is a tragic occurrence that has left the entire organization mourning a terrible loss.

It also illustrates how easy it is to become distracted, and how quickly heat can affect those that we love that are particularly vulnerable to it

Please keep this in mind when transporting children, pets, or the elderly," said the police department in a statement.

Mason was a popular dog with the police department and they often posted photos of him to their Facebook page carrying out ‘canine police duties.’

In April they posted a photo of Mason with the department Telecommunicator Natalie Wilson.

"Officer Mason presented Natalie with a certificate to recognize her dedicated service to the community and support of GSPD operations in the field. Please join us in thanking Natalie for a job well done!," said the post from April 17.

Mason worked with the Department since last November as a public relations dog and a therapy dog for victims of crime. 

Sadly this is not the first time this year that a police officer has left a dog to die in a hot car. In May, two police dogs died after their handler apparently left them in his vehicle for hours as temperatures reached as high as 86F (30C).

Hialeah police officer Nelson Enriquez drove to his Davie, Florida, home early on Wednesday following his midnight shift and left the dogs inside his marked police car in his driveway.

He found Jimmy, a seven-year-old bloodhound, and Hector, a four-year-old Belgian Malinois, dead inside the vehicle around 7:00 p.m.

In a further tragic twist, Jimmy was donated to the police department by the father of a nine-year-old murder victim to assist with missing children investigations, according to a 2009 NBC Miami report.

The bloodhound, who was five months old at the time, was donated by Don Ryce whose son, Jimmy, was abducted a block from his home, raped and then murdered in 1995.

The child's killer, Juan Carlos Chavez, was sentenced to death for the murder.

Left in a hot car: Mason, 3, died last Friday after being left in the backseat of Corporal Josh Coleman's car on Thursday during a hurricane preparation conference in Gulf Shores.

Earlier that day: The Gulf Shores Police Department Facebook page shared a photograph of Mason inside the conference center just hours before he was left to cook in the heat.

Birthday dog: Mason served as the Community Relations dog for the Gulf Shores Police Department who celebrated the pooch’s third birthday on June 9.

Public relations: In April the department posted a photo of Mason congratulating the department telecommunicator Natalie Wilson on her achievements.

Holiday time: Mason was present as the police department helped out with a holiday teddy bear drive.

Part of the police family: Mason worked with the department since November as a public relations dog and a therapy dog for victims of crime.

The beloved department dog died on Friday at around 11pm despite showing some minor improvements that morning

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Fairfax County Police Department: Meet CJ, Our Newest K9 Recruit

Our newest K9 recruit, CJ, says Happy Monday to everyone! You can't help but smile when you see her! CJ is just 7 weeks old and traveled up from Alabama last week. She will live with her new K9 handler and ride alongside K9 Cody over the next year, as she grows and begins training. CJ is a Bloodhound. Her Bloodhound cousins, K9 Bolt and K9 Silas, already serve on the department. CJ will learn to find missing children and adults with her amazing tracking abilities! Let's give CJ a big welcome to our county!

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A Tacoma, Washington, Police Dog Has Died After Ingesting Methamphetamine During A Narcotics Investigation

A police dog named Barney, has died after ingesting methamphetamine during a narcotics investigation, the Pierce County prosecutor's office said Thursday.

The 11-year-old Lab mix was with his handler, Officer Henry Betts, as he was serving a search warrant when he became sick. Barney had a body temperature of 109 and was having seizures when they took him to the BluePearl Veterinary Hospital on Tuesday night.

By Wednesday morning, he was becoming more alert and responsive, but passed away on Thursday.

Narcotics dogs usually signal when drugs are present, by placing their noses on the substance. But in this case, the drugs were unwrapped and Barney came in direct contact with the meth.

The search warrant did lead to the discovery of 44 pounds of meth and $225,000 in cash, prosecutors said. Three people have been charged with drug possession with two of them additionally charged with intent to sell.

Prosecutors haven't decided yet whether to amend the charges to include the death of the police dog.

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6-Year-Old Police Dog, Nero, Beloved K9 at the Oviedo Police Department, Laid to Rest in Emotional Ceremony

Oviedo, FL -  Nero the beloved K9 German Shepherd, made a lasting impression on the Oviedo Police Department.

After 6-year-old Nero was diagnosed with terminal cancer, the department decided to put him down. On Friday, they laid him to rest at local animal hospital. His fellow officers had their hands up in salute and police dogs sat at attention, while Officer David Capetillo walked him for the last time. Nero was given a ceremony with full honors - a testament to the love and loyalty he exhibited during his time on the force.

Nero had spent the last four years of his life working as a police dog, proving himself as an invaluable member of the team. Training video shows just how agile he was, capable of easily bounding into the bed of a pick-up truck to attack a mock suspect.

"He and his K-9 officer, David Capetillo, are credited with numerous drug busts and are also credited with tracking numerous criminal suspects, lost children and missing, endangered adults," said Oviedo police in a statement.

Nero had also played the part of local celebrity. He and Officer Capetillo had performed demonstrations at several events throughout the year, said the department, including each of the DARE graduations at four elementary schools in the city.

Thank you for your service.

Oviedo Fl. police officer David Capetillo walks past an honor guard of fellow K-9 officers from the Central Florida area as he walks his partner, Nero, to the veterinarians office one final time. Nero suffered from cancer and was laid to rest on Friday March 20, 2015.  Ed Ruping, Oviedo Fire/Rescue

Oviedo Fl. police officer David Capetillo walks past an honor guard of fellow K-9 officers from the Central Florida area as he walks his partner, Nero, to the veterinarians office one final time. Nero suffered from cancer and was laid to rest on Friday March 20, 2015. Ed Ruping, Oviedo Fire/Rescue

Officers from the Central Florida area salute after Oviedo Fl K-9 Nero was laid to rest after four years of service to the City of Oviedo police department. Nero suffered from cancer and was laid to rest on Friday March 20, 2015. Ed Ruping, Oviedo Fire/Rescue

Oviedo Fl. police officer David Capetillo and his wife Lt Heather Capetillo walks past an honor guard of fellow K-9 officers from the Central Florida area. His partner, Nero, who was diagnosed with cancer earlier in the week was laid to rest on Friday March 20, 2015. Ed Ruping, Oviedo Fire/Rescue


Condolences on The Lake Mary Police Department Facebook page:

Asking for thoughts and prayers today as Officer D. Capetillo and his family say goodbye to Oviedo Police Department’s K-9 Nero . It was discovered that this sweet boy has an inoperable tumor on/in his heart. A gut wrenching decision was made to hold his paw while he crosses the bridge today. Officer Nero, we thank you for spending your days dedicated to your work and your handler. As the Capetillo and Oviedo Police Department deal with this loss, we send them our love and support.

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