Sacramento Deputies Give Back to K9 Officer with Cancer

Dogs are often more than just man’s best friend, working for a living to protect communities. Long after their badges come off, their people are trying to make sure they return the favor when the animals need it the most — in the face of illness.

Six-year-old Sacramento County Sheriff’s K-9 Officer Kaleo has had an adventurous five years on the job. “I can think of several times that he had my back and definitely saved my life,” said Deputy Mark Limbird, Kaleo’s handler.

Limbird recalls the time his canine partner kept hanging on to a suspected burglar even as the suspect was hitting Kaleo on the head with a shovel. “But even still at that point, Kaleo never let go of the guy, did his job and everybody went home safe that night,” he added.

But recently Kaleo was faced with the biggest challenge of his career. He was forced to retire. “A couple of months ago he went in for a check up and found a tumor on his foot,” said Limbird. “It was a huge emotional roller coaster ride when we found out,” he added.

According to Limbird, what made matters worse was Kaleo would no longer be covered by the county for his veterinary care during his fight against cancer. Instead, Limbird would have to seek out help to pay for Kaleo’s treatment.

“A ballpark figure just for Kaleo for his treatment at this time is about $10,000,” said Limbird. “Thankfully, the Sacramento Sheriff’s K-9 Association was established to help in situations like this,” he added. The group raises money to help pay for retired working dogs’ health care.

However, in a struggling economy, donations are down. In an attempt to continue to help Kaleo’s family pay for chemotherapy, radiation and surgery, a 5K and 10K run/walk on August 23 will take place at the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department’s Training Facility. Proceeds will also go to help other retired working dogs.

“He needs the support of the community,” said Dr. Michael Kent, a UC Davis veterinarian treating Kaleo. “He’s served the community helping to protect everyone for five years, it’s time for people to help him back.”

With such support, Limbird hopes his best friend stays by his side for years to come. “We just kind of keep hopes alive that everything will be fine and that we caught it early enough and that he’ll enjoy many years at home with my wife, children and just enjoy being part of our family,” said Limbird.

For registration costs and to register for the 5k/10k, click here.

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Miami K-9 officer and dog get high marks from national association

Gentle and friendly by nature, Ero, a 5-year-old German Shepherd, knows when it’s time to get serious.

At a recent certification and competition through the United States Police Canine Association, Ero earned the distinction of being one of the best bomb dogs in the state.

“He’s part of our family and is with me and my wife and children all day, every day,” said Keith Hibbard, a Miami University police officer and Ero’s trainer. “Whenever we’re not working, he’s a family dog, but when I put his collar on him, he knows it’s time to go to work.”

At the competition held in June, Hibbard and Ero received the USPCA’s Explosive Detector Dog Certification, which consists of graded operational searches of buildings and vehicles.

Ero identifies explosives by sitting and pointing with his nose rather than scratching at them, which could trigger them, said Hibbard, who worked with explosives in the Navy.

“Other canine handlers tell me Ero is the perfect bomb dog and they wish their dogs were more like him,” he said. “He won’t give up while searching for explosives, but he’s also willing to be gentle, put on a smile and lean against a friend so you will pet him when he’s not working.”

Hibbard became his handler in 2007 after going through explosives training with Ero for 10 weeks.

“Chief John McCandless spearheaded the bomb dog program,” Hibbard said. “His vision is the reason we have Ero.”

And while Ero works from the Miami campus, he’s often requested by other area agencies for pre-event and package sweeps. He and Hibbard worked the NAACP convention in Cincinnati, at Great American Ball Park a few years ago when President George W. Bush threw out the first pitch and, the most recent sweep, was for Gov. Ted Strickland when he visited Miami.

“We feel very proud and fortunate to have one of the best explosive detection dogs in the Tri-state and a handler like Officer Hibbard who is so dedicated to his community and our K-9 program,” said Capt. Jason Willis who oversees Miami’s program.

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K-9 demonstrations, bike rides part of the fun at District 14 open house

K-9 unit officer Michael Calabro educates children with police dog Ziggy, 10. Ziggy is due to retire this year. ZARA TZANEV

With barbecue, music, giveaways, pony ride and face painting, Allston-Brighton families were having a fun time with the Boston Police Department and the officers of District 14 at the open house and bicycle safety day last Saturday at 301 Washington St., Brighton.

“It’s a way to give back to the community,” said Amy McKenna, 31, police officer and one of the organizers of the event.

Mayor Thomas M. Menino came to the open house to show his support to the community and the police of Boston, saying he’s a big fan of bicycle and that it’s important to educate young people to wear helmet.

“This event is about the community working with the police,” Menino said. “Everyone working together makes it a great city to live.”

The open house was a way police officers hoped to build the community and get people together to socialize through the event, according to Frank Hughes, community service officer, who was one of the organizers.

Radio Disney was invited to the open house to offer various games for the kids, topics that included safety, recycling and recognition of Disney songs. The kids were rewarded with prizes such as tattoo stickers.

“It’s a great way to get to know information about safety,” said Kelly Stevens, 27, promotion coordinator for Radio Disney.

However, bicycle safety should be practiced rather than just talked about, so the police invited Allston-Brighton Bikes to lead the kids onto a safe bike ride. Chris Ditunno at the A-B Bikes led six kids on their bikes to ride around a block near the police station. They were protected with a police car in front and another behind the expedition.

Another thing that impressed the neighbors was how K-9 officers trained their police dogs. Officers used different words to give commands to the dogs. Officer Scott O’Brien brought his German shepherd, Zyggy, to demonstrate how a police dog would attack a suspect by biting without letting go.

“These dogs only bite bad people,” said K-9 Officer Michael Calabro, who acted the role of a baddie in the show. He got bruises because of the pressure of Zyggy’s bite, assuring the kids of their safety, “but I don’t see bad people around. So we’re all set, right?”

“Absolutely brilliant,” said Mary Phelan, a Brighton housewife, who came here with her three kids and her husband. “Kids love it. I really enjoyed the K-9 show, and kids love the pony ride and the face painting.”

In its third year, the open house gave Allston-Brighton neighbors an opportunity to get together with their families and the community.

“They have done a way much better job this year,” said Charlie Cryts, who came to the event with his two adopted kids, Kelly and Billy. “There are more people this year.”

“It’s important to have community events like this,” said Linda Sleeper, a lifelong Brighton resident, who came here with her husband, Ray, and their granddaughter, Cassie, 4, who enjoyed the pony ride very much.

The open house not only ended with a raffle for an iPod, four tickets to Boston College sport games and a children’s bike, but also with flowers or butterflies on kids’ faces and smiles by the adults.

“We need more days like this,” said Kim Smith, who is a crossing guard for six years. “If we have more like this, the community would be even stronger.”

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Pine Hill officer and his dog earn Canine Service Award

Pine Hill Police Officer Jim Mundie and K-9 Capone were awarded the Canine Service Award for their efforts in the manhunt of July 13 in capturing escapee Bennie Woodgett. “Both showed great bravery going under the house after an armed and dangerous suspect,” said chief John N. Brown.

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Jefferson City police introduce new K-9 officer

Jefferson City police have a new four-legged tool in the fight against drugs. Police introduced their new utility dog at Monday night’s meeting.

The two-year-old Belgian Malinois, named Darco, will be a full-time partner with an officer. The department acquired the expensive dog with the help of the community and a local car dealer.

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Newberry police K-9 dog undergoes surgery

What a beautiful animal. Hope he makes a full and speedy recovery! It’s wonderful to see all the donations they’ve received, too.

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UPDATE

Newberry Township Police have received enough in donations to pay for Logan’s surgery.

“The response has been amazing and we are currently able to pay for the dog’s medical expenses and are in the rare situation of having to turn down donations to take care of the costs,” Chief John Snyder wrote in a news release.

Additional money will go toward the K-9 program. Logan is recovering well and should be back with his handler soon.

FULL STORY

Throughout the day Wednesday, police officers spilled into the Newberry Township station asking how surgery went for one of their downed comrades.

Logan, the department’s K-9 dog of three years, is recovering from emergency surgery for an acute gastric distortion — his stomach turned and twisted.

The German Shepherd dog is listed in stable condition, said Newberry Township Police Chief John Snyder.

“They are saying it looks promising, but I don’t know for sure,” Snyder said.

Logan is known throughout the county. He has gone on calls to search for bombs in schools, search for lost children and as a loyal protector of police on security details.

He has been used in presidential details on George Bush’s visits to York County.

Around the station, Logan is considered a loyal friend, a member of the department and comrade, Snyder said.

“He is one of us,” Snyder said.

The cost of the surgery has also rocked the police department. Snyder said he did not have the estimated

$3,000 budgeted for the unexpected expense. The costs for the K-9 program are not part of the budget, with all training and medical costs covered by fundraisers and donations.Already, he said, he is getting some donations to help defray the costs and is asking the community for some help.

Logan is being monitored for post operative complications at the Animal Emergency and Referral Center of York, 1640 S. Queen St., according to practice manager Katina Palm.

She said Dr. Shaka Monroe operated on him this week and corrected the problem, and so far he’s doing well. Palm said he should be able to go home today.

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A 9K for a K-9

On his first day back at work after a 10-week training session, he found two men who were suspected of stealing fireworks hiding in the bushes. How did he find them? He sniffed them out.

Jag, a 2-year-old German shepherd, and his handler, police officer Scott Huteson, make up the official K9 team for the Milwaukie Police Department.

Jag actually has another “capture” under his leash, as he and Huteson were called out by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office during their training in Hillsboro.

“We got a call that a suspect had violated a restraining order and had a warrant out for his arrest. We did an area search and located him in the next yard over — I was pretty happy about that,” Huteson said.

9K for K9

Huteson and Jag finished their training and reported to work on June 24, and on Saturday they will be participating in the 9K for K9 walk as part of the Milwaukie Daze festivities; Huteson is looking forward to the event as it will give residents a chance to meet Jag, pet him and see that he is “a regular dog with special training.”

Socialization was part of Jag’s 10-week schooling process, sponsored by the Oregon Police Canine Association, and he is particularly responsive to children, Huteson said.

He noted that all the funds raised by the walk will go to defray upkeep costs for Jag, which include food, veterinarian care and special equipment, like extra-long leashes used in tracking down suspects, some of whom may be armed.

In addition, Huteson’s police car has been especially adapted for Jag with a secure water bowl, heat sensors and a fan.

“So if the temperature hits 90 degrees, the windows come down, the fan comes on and my beeper pager activates,” he said.

The pager also has a button that pops the door so Jag can jump out of the car if Huteson needs his assistance in a crisis.

Daily routines

Huteson works Wednesdays through Saturdays from 6 p.m. to 4 a.m., and said he takes calls just like a regular police officer, but also takes K9 calls.

Jag lives with Huteson and his family and on his off days, Huteson takes the dog for walks to get some exercise.

“Home life should be boring, so when he comes to work he is excited and ready to go,” he noted.

K9 calls usually involve tracking suspects, looking for missing people and article searches.

People leave their scent on items and trained dogs can often follow the scent to find something that may have been thrown in the bushes, Huteson said.

“The first year is a huge learning curve,” he said, adding that it takes time for the handler to read his dog.

Jag is trained to “find and bark,” Huteson said, and the dog can only bite in three instances: when Huteson tells him to, if Jag is attacked or when someone attacks Huteson.

Training is ongoing, so the two work on obedience daily and also put in 20 hours a month on maintenance with other K9 handlers.

Interaction with community

Jag is the first K9 dog in Milwaukie since the early 1990s, Huteson said, and the Public Safety Advisory Committee was instrumental in fundraising to get the current program up and running.

Since the dog was given to the department by the community through fundraising events, Huteson likes to take him to as many neighborhood events as possible.

Meeting Jag “is a great way to interact with the police. When I drive through neighborhoods and I see kids playing I let Jag out and the kids get to pet a police dog,” Huteson said, noting that he had special stickers made up that feature a picture of the dog.

But the K9 program is also a crime deterrent.

“People are naturally apprehensive when it comes to dogs, especially if they are barking and growling,” Huteson said.

He noted that he once clocked Jag as running at 24 miles an hour, and added, “You can’t outrun a dog. If you get in a race with a dog, you can’t win.”

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Officers, Dogs to compete in K-9 olympics

EAST HARTFORD – – Several police officers and their dogs will be heading to the annual K-9 Olympics on Saturday.

Officer Steven Grossi and his dog Odin; Officer John Zavalick and Raven; and officer Todd Mona and his dog Primo — both of whom were injured in January — will compete in the 17th annual event. Mona was shot in the leg and Primo was stabbed while responding to a domestic dispute in January.

“They are both doing well and excited to be going,” said Officer Hugo Benettieri.

The department created the first K-9 team in 1990 and have assisted in more than 1,000 arrests; searched more than 1.2 million square feet of residential and commercial space for suspects; and helped officers seized 100 pounds of marijuana, more than 13 pounds of cocaine and 450 grams of heroin.

The teams have also been successful at the annual Olympics, with more than a dozen first-place finishes. Last year, Grossi and his dog Odin placed first overall in the competition. During the 10th annual Olympics, the team took first, second and third place.

The daylong event will start at 8 a.m. and include K-9 units from local police departments, state police and state Department of Corrections. Teams are evaluated during a ring competition in an arena-style setting. Areas of competition include obedience, obstacles, evidence recovery, building search, marksmanship and an apprehension drill. The event will be held at the old University of Connecticut Campus on Route 44.

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Florida Highway Patrol Graduates 43 New Troopers

The Florida Highway Patrol now has 43 new state troopers to join its ranks as the 117th Basic Recruit Class graduated from the FHP’s Law Enforcement Training Academy today at the Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center. The graduation ceremony marks the conclusion of an intensive 27-week training period that prepares them for a career as a Florida State Trooper and instills the FHP’s core values of service, courtesy and protection.

“It is an honor to welcome our newest recruit class to the ranks,” said Director of the Florida Highway Patrol, Colonel John Czernis. “Becoming a state trooper means taking on a great amount of responsibility and carrying on a 70-year tradition of safeguarding motorists on Florida highways. We are proud of our history, and we are pleased to have new troopers to carry on FHP’s commitment toward a safer Florida. They will be a valuable addition to our future efforts to save lives.”

Electra Theodorides-Bustle, Executive Director of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles stated, “We are proud that these graduates have chosen the honorable career of a Florida State Trooper. As troopers, they will have the opportunity to protect our state and save lives. We look forward to getting these troopers out on our roads to further the mission of the Department of keeping our highways safe and secure.”

The graduates and guests welcomed long-time supporter of the FHP, State Rep. Marti Coley, who addressed the class. Coley’s late husband, State Rep. David Coley, was a lieutenant colonel in the Florida Highway Patrol Auxiliary.

During the commencement ceremony, the FHP honored Recruit Lisa Barnett with the Executive Director’s award for achieving the highest grade point average at the Academy. The Patrol presented the Director’s award, honoring the recruit demonstrating extraordinary courtesy and dedication during the training, to Recruit Trevor Kemp.

Florida’s newest state troopers from the 117th class will report for duty by July 31, 2009. The Florida Highway Patrol continues its recruitment efforts for the 118th Recruit Class
scheduled to begin on Aug. 9, 2009. For additional information, please visit our website at www.flhsmv.gov/fhp or contact our Recruitment Office at 850-617-2307.

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K9 can do

Teens ranging in ages from 13 to 17 years old participate in the Smithfield Leadership Academy at Smithfield High School. The two week summer program, organized by the school and police department, hopes to develop leadership skills and work with at risk youth. The group are given a demonstration by Canine Officer Mike Gilmore during an outing to Deerfield Park.

Providence Journal video by John Freidah

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