Bil-Jac Foods and The German Shepherd Dog Club of Northern Ohio have
come together again this year to Honor the German Shepherd in K-9 Police
Work in Northern Ohio The Honor is based on their contributions during
the calendar year 2004.
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This year, our First Honoree
and his Partner responded to the report of a fight outside of a
restaurant. People involved in the fight began to fight with officers
that had responded to the scene. Without being
called on to assist, this K-9 saw that his Partner was being assaulted
and exited the patrol car to come to his aid. During the ensuing
moments, the two suspects that were assaulting the police officers
were bitten by the K-9 officer. They were taken into custody and
charged with various offenses.
Our TOP HONOR FOR PROTECTION IN THE LINE OF DUTY for 2004 goes
to K-9 KANTO of the Shaker Heights Police Department.
Partner,
Sgt. Jaime Planinsek.
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Our Next Honoree and his Partner were finishing their day of work
and on their way home when they noticed an Ohio State Highway Patrol
on a traffic stop. The Partner spoke with the State Highway Patrol
Officer. The stopped car was out of Texas and the officer believed
the occupants were hauling drugs. The Officer asked if the K-9
could be walked around the vehicle. K-9, when walked by the rear
trunk area, stopped abruptly and began to bark and scratch loudly
at the rear trunk lid, indicating the presence of drugs. A search
of the trunk revealed approximately 52 pounds of marijuana, which
had been dipped in oil and sealed in ziplock bags to conceal the
small, along with a loaded 9mm Rugar semi-automatic handgun and
over $3,000.00 in U.S. Currency.
Our TOP HONOR FOR SUBSTANCE DETECTION for 2004 goes to K-9 RADAR
of the Cleveland Metroparks Ranger Department
here with his Partner, Sgt. Sean Flanigan.
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Our next K-9 just completed her first full calendar
year in service. She also has assisted local agencies, such as
the Painesville Police Department, Lake County Sheriff's Office,
Lake County Jail, Madison Village Police Department, Lake County
Narcotics Agency, among others. This K-9 has had many successful
tracks and narcotic searches, as well as being involved in community
activities. As part of the lunchtime intervention program at
Fairport Harbor High School and McKinley Elementary she has conducted
business checks. Students, as well as faculty, have been able
to meet and pet her. The Intervention Program helps the Fairport
Harbor Police develop a “repoire” with
students and faculty, as well
as a chance for students and adults to interact with the K-9
Officer.
Our TOP HONOR FOR ROOKIE for 2004 is K-9 ZEUS of the Fairport
Harbor Police Department, handler, Officer Lee Campbell.
This year we are honoring two K-9’s in
the area of Tracking. On June 2nd, officers were dispatched on
a 911 hang up call. Upon arrival, officers observed a male actively
assaulting a woman. Upon seeing the officers, the male fled into
the home and hid. Officers search the home without success. Our
K-9 officer searched the home and began to show signs of interest
in the basement laundry area. K-9 was removed from the area due
to a large amount of blood on the floor. When officers focused
their search on area that K-9 indicated, the man was discovered
hiding in the empty shell of a clothing dryer.
Our first TOP HONOR FOR TRACKING for 2004 is K-9 MAJOR of the
Garfield Heights Police Department and his handler, Dale Merchant.
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On October 20th, undercover agents from the
Wadsworth Police Department and the MEDWAY drug enforcement agency
attempted a buy bus in the City of Wadsworth. The suspect seemed
to realize the agent was a Police Officer and attempted to flee
the scene. In so doing, the suspect struck the officer with his
vehicle and the officer fired a round, just striking the suspect
in the neck, before he fell to the ground. The suspect then fled
the scene. Our K-9 and his handler were then requested to the
scene. The track the dog indicated went through several back
yards, over fences and a small stream. K-9 found a blood-stained
shirt near a tree line. Track continued down the tree line. Moments
after crossing a small stream, K-9 showed attention in an area
of bushes. As the K-9 and his handler approached these bushes,
an Officer with a thermal imager said a large area of heat was
indicated approximately 10 yards (30 feet) from K-9’s position.
Officers surrounded the area and within minutes was able to take
the suspect into custody without incident.
Our next TOP HONOR for TRACKING for 2004 is K-9 LOUIS of the Lafayette
Police Department, handler, Officer Steve Clark.
There are many K-9’s that work in smaller
communities and aside from tracking and some drug situations,
public demonstrations to educate and entertain the public, community
service and dedicated training is of the foremost importance.
In Brunswick Hills Police Department, Hawke and Falcon were a
father and son team in 2004. Falcon retired this past March,
2005.
This SPECIAL RECOGNITION for K-9 SERVICE goes to K-9 FALCON of
the Brunswick Hills Police Department
, here with his partner, Officer
Heather Stask.
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Throughout the year, this K-9 was part of a
unit that responded to numerous calls for assistance involving
narcotics, area searches, tracking and building searches. This
K-9 was involved in narcotics searches that discovered a rolling
meth lab as well as a reported burglary that turned into a drug
deal “gone bad”; a
crowd control incident with a
fight involving 150-200 people where the K-9 assisted his Handler
in moving crowd away from victim until other officers came to
assist. In light of his general accomplishments, we are giving
this SPECIAL RECOGNITION for K-9 SERVICE to K-9 JESSY of the
Kent Police Department and her Handler, Jim Ennemoser.
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Community Service is a very important part of
K-9 work. One of our dogs here today stands out in this area.
One of the duties of a K-9 Unit is to further the spirit of community
policing in the city through a variety of functions. This K-9
regularly conducts foot patrols in all the city’s parks and neighborhoods. While
on patrol, the team addresses various quality of life issues, such
as loud music, juveniles walking in the street or drinking in public.
They participate in many public demonstrations such as Dog Days
at the Museum of Natural History and Working Dog Weekend at Lake
Farm Park. Most important is the “Puppy Patrol” demonstration
they do with the third grade
classes at the local elementary school. This class teaches
the children the dangers of illegal drugs and guns and encourages
them to report any suspicious activity in their neighborhoods
to the police or responsible adult. In light of all the foregoing:
Our TOP HONOR for COMMUNITY SERVICE goes to K-9 REX of the South
Euclid Police Department, here today with his Partner, Mike Fink.
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We have honored our next Honoree before. Besides the work he did
within his own department, he often worked special
assignments with other agencies such as the United States Postal
Service, United States Drug Enforcement Agency, Ohio Bureau of
Criminal Identification and Investigation, Cuyahoga County Sheriff's
Office, and other police departments. In 2004, this K-9 and his
Handler were responsible for the following seizures: 3,531 pounds
of Marijuana; 46 kilograms of Cocaine (including powder and crack);
9 pounds Methamphetamines; 3 gallons liquid PCP; 2,000 pharmaceutical
tablets; 360 20 ml vials of injectable steroids; 50 pints codeine
syrup; $120,000.00 U.S. currency, resulting in 60 arrests. Sadly,
on April 13th he crossed over the Rainbow Bridge, on his own, at
the age of 13. He really was very Special.
TOP HONOR FOR NARCOTICS DETECTION for 2004 goes to K-9 GUNNER
of the East Cleveland Police Department. Here to accept is his
Partner, Detective Gene Cook.
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We would also like to honor K-9’s and Handlers who came
out today in support of our Hero Dogs. Let’s welcome:
Bill Truex and K-9 Gunnie
Sandy Lesko and K-9 Gondo (and K-9 Elliot Ness)
Marty Gilliland and K-9 Bak
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Our next Honor is a little bit out of the ordinary
for us. Another officer wrote “he has always been willing to help new police
officers and specifically new K-9 handlers learn the ropes”.
In January, 2005, Mike Matsik and K-9 Aero retired from the Shaker
Heights Police Force. Mike Matsik started his K-9 Handler career
while with the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office. As we understand,
his first K-9, Drill, was “rescued” when his owners
were going through a divorce. Mike took this dog, who we have to
say was actually bred by our own Joan Fox, and worked as K-9 Drill’s
partner for many years, first with the Sheriff’s office and
then with the Middlefield Village Police. (We heard a little story
about Drill always being very cautious and wary of Mike’s
daughters suitors.) When Drill
could no longer perform his duties, Mike partnered with K-9
Aero. Aero also has been a very special dog. Mike once told
me a story about a vacation he took with Aero.
Sadly, someone was missing in
a swimming accident. When people heard that Aero was a K-9
officer, they asked if he could help. Mike told them the dog
was not trained for that type of work, but figured he could
try and see what happened. Mike and the dog went into the boat
onto the lake, and sure enough, Aero indicated at a certain
location and later the body was actually found there. Mike
has always been very dedicated to the K-9 in police work and
hopefully, although retired, he’ll be there to help and
guide others. Because of his dedication and inspiration of
others …
At this time, we would like to award him SPECIAL RECOGNITION for
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT to MIKE MATSIK and his personal Hero Dogs,
K-9 AERO and K-9 DRILL.
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2004 marked the start of this team’s eighth
year of service together. Each month this K-9 and his Handler
were involved in situations from narcotics to tracking to bravery
and protection and community service. To site some examples:
flight of a suspect wanted on numerous felony warrants was prevented
--- when the suspect was stopped, he immediately bailed from
his car and attempted to flee in front of his car. As he rounded
the front of the car, he saw the K-9 and Officer ready to deploy.
Although the suspect resisted his arrest as officers converged
on him, K-9 prevented the suspect from fleeing into the woods.
This suspect was subsequently found to have a loaded handgun
on his person.
In another situation, while assisting another
officer in the arrest of an assault suspect, K-9 was called upon
to engage the suspect after he became combative. Chemical spray
proved ineffective on the 300-pound suspect, who then began attacking
the K-9. This dog did not back down from the suspect’s
assault and was instrumental in getting the suspect under control.
The suspect was later charged with assaulting a police K-9, in
addition to other charges.
Along with many of the other K-9’s we
have honored here today, this K-9 Unit has focused efforts in
the area of Community Policing in 2004. The K-9 Unit was seen
at many public venues --- major retail areas, city parks and
special events, such as Mentor High and Lake Catholic football
games, church festivals, and the annual Kops-n-Kids Christmas
Party. Public Demonstrations were held at Law Days, Working Dog
Weekend and Mutt Strut.
Most impressive is that this wonderful K-9 lives in a home with
many young children and other dogs --- with no issues! He really
is wonderful!
THE GENE JASINSKI HERO DOG AWARD for OUTSTANDING K-9 SERVICE for
2004 goes to K-9 THUNDER from the Mentor Police Department and
his Partner, Officer Ron Gunton.
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photos by woodland designs
Archive Hero Dog Awards 2004
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