2010 - Present Tributes For Police And Military K9 Handlers

Note :  Some of these tributes are for police canine officers that were killed in the line of duty and some for officers that died while off duty. Also included are military canine handlers that were killed during wars.

Both officer and K9 were killed in line of duty

Jerome "Jerry" Larson, 68, died on January 24, 2012, at home after a battle with cancer. He served in the Army, 101st Airborne Division, where he earned both Airborne and Ranger tabs. He had spent much of his life handling and training police dogs, and serving as a mentor to the next generation of handlers. In 1976 he took the initiative to acquire and train 2-year-old German Shepherd, Joe, and talked the department into adding him to the force.  Larson and Joe worked some memorable cases in their five-or-so years together on the Duluth police force.  In 1981, after Joe started to slow down, Larson retired his K-9 partner. He founded the Police K-9 Association for Duluth and became the first K-9 Officer in Duluth history. He was thoroughly respected throughout the county for his knowledge, skill, and experience working with police K-9s. Many of the K-9s he trained became nationally known for their excellent work within Police K-9 Association. After Larson retired from the force in 1990, he still trained and mentored other dogs and handlers. In 1992, Larson was brought out of retirement to conduct the training for his police department. Many said some techniques Larson taught back then were ahead of their time, and picked up by other departments years later. He is survived by a daughter, Wanda, and two sons, Jerry and Scott. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in his name to the Duluth Police K-9 Fund, Attn: Gordon Ramsay, at 211 W. 1st. St., Duluth MN, 55802.

Retired Renton Police Sergeant Mark Day, 62, died on December 22, 2011, following a fifteen year battle with cancer. At age 38, he made the decision to pursue a career in law enforcement. Sergeant Day graduated first in class overall in 1987 from the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission, Law Enforcement Academy, and joined the Renton Police Department later that year. Sergeant Day worked for the Renton Police for 23 years, retiring October 31, 2010. During his career Sergeant Day rose through the ranks, eventually becoming an Acting Commander and ultimately a Sergeant in the Investigations Division. Sergeant Day was selected by the Renton Police Department as the Employee of the Quarter twice: first in 1997, and again in 2008. In 1990 Sergeant Day was awarded a position on the Canine Unit, and was assigned a German Shepherd puppy named Buck as part of the City’s “Puppy Program.” K9 Officer Buck partnered with Sergeant Day until 1997, when the Buck retired from the police force to live out his days with the Day family. Sergeant Day went on to lead and train the Renton Police Department Canine Teams, ultimately becoming a Master Canine Trainer in 2001. The dynamic duo of Day and Buck arrested over 200 suspects including a person who kidnapped a four-year-old and two homicide suspects, one in Tukwila another in Seattle. Buck passed away on July 9, 2001 also from cancer. A book was written about Day and Buck both dealing with cancer at the same time, with the animal dying in his arms. Ted Koppel, formerly of ABC-TV's "Nightline," interviewed him after learning that Day was going to have another of his tracking dogs blessed at his Catholic church, which stirred some national controversy. Sergeant Day graduated from Renton High School in 1968. While at Renton, Day was student body president his senior year, chosen for the high school All-American Football Team in 1967, and was captain of the football and track teams in both 1967 and 1968.  He earned a full athletic scholarship to the University of Washington and played with Stanford's Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jim Plunkett. Sergeant Day is survived by his wife of over 40 years, Marcia Day; his three grown children: Natalie , Kyle , and Aaron.

Darren Kunz, 40, of Fergus Falls, Minnesota, passed away on 2/17/11 under the care of Lakeland Hospice at Sheridan House after nearly a year long battle with lung and brain cancer. Darren attended Alexandria Technical College, graduating with top honors from the Law Enforcement Program in 1997. After school, Darren worked part time for the Pelican Rapids Police Department and later the Fergus Falls Police Department. A short time later, Darren went to work for the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Department full time. Darren was a SWAT Team member and instrumental in bringing in the departments first narcotics-only canine, closing several cases and winning numerous awards. Darren won a Meritorious Service Award from the Chiefs of Police for his part in dealing with a chainsaw-wielding suspect. Darren is survived by his wife, Beth, his daughter Elizabeth, 2, step daughters, Nichelle and Chelsea, step son, Nathan and his beloved K9, Nijka. Anyone wishing to contribute can send donations to: Beth Kunz, 514 West Laurel, Fergus Falls, MN 56537.

Corporal Rohan Richardson, of the Royal Police Force, died on December 6, 2011 at Mount St John’s Medical Centre  after suddenly falling ill.  Richardson was found when Richardson’s fiancée and  live-in companion, also a member of the force, was trying to get a hold of him but was unable to do so. The woman had  forgotten her cell phone at home and wanted him to deliver it to her. After calling his phone for some time without answer, the female officer asked her daughter to go to the house to check on the police corporal. It was at this time that Richardson was found in the bathroom by his stepdaughter lying on the bathroom floor conscious at the time but unable to communicate. He might have fallen and hit his head. Emergency Medical Service (EMS) was summoned to the scene. He was rushed to Mount St John’s Medical Centre, where he was later pronounced dead. Corporal Richardson headed the Canine Unit since its establishment over three years ago.

 

 

Navy Seal John Douangdara

 

Officer Roy Sims, 51, was struck and killed on a motorcycle on 8/5/11 while escorting a hearse during a funeral. He was off duty and on private detail at the time. At 11:39 a.m. Officer Sims had just cleared an intersection and was accelerating to get to the front of the line of cars when the hearse make a right turn and hit Ofc. Sims’ Police motorcycle  at Gate of Heaven Cemetery entrance on Montgomery Road. The impact threw Officer Sims  27 feet and his head struck a curb, sustaining significant head trauma.  Sims was alert and talking to rescue workers immediately after the accident.   He was transported by ground to Bethesda North Hospital. And was pronounced dead around 3 p.m. Roy worked for the Covington Police Department beginning Sept. 22, 1988 where he was a K9 Handler through Sept. 1, 2008, retiring as a Sergeant. He then started work as an  Officer for the Northern Kentucky University Police Department . Sims' personnel file was filled with commendations and letters of appreciation for his service in both the military and in law enforcement. He served in the United States Armed Forces and was a Gulf War Veteran. When his K9 partner "Cliff" died after working with him for seven years, Officer Sims laid his canine officer pins on the dog's coffin at the memorial service for Cliff.  Sergeant Sims final act of service to his community was to donate his tissue and organs in the hopes of improving or extending the life of another. He was a Schutzhund Trainer  Officer Sims is survived by his wife, Lori Brockell Sims, twin sons Matthew and Daniel, Ryan, Cory and daughter Emily Sims. . A fund made to Roy Sims Memorial Fund has been set up through the Bank of Kentucky.

Trooper Fred Guthrie Jr.

Sgt.  Christopher M. Wrinkle

Deputy Bryan P. Gross, 29, died while on duty on 7/28/11, three days before his 30th birthday, after responding to an emergency call about a person being swept away in the North Platte River. He drowned while participating in an effort to rescue a juvenile female who had been reported struggling in the river about 5 p.m. The 14 year old girl was in town for a 4-H fair. She was distraught with her boyfriend, and she jumped in the river. The girl entered the waterway near the Douglas Yellowstone Bridge, which joins both sides of Douglas, 50 miles east of Casper. Gross had entered into the river from one side while several others swam in from the other. After the girl was rescued about a mile downstream by Douglas Police Officer Jeremiah Owens along with two citizens, Keith Thompson, 19, and Lane Morgan, 16, from the river. Then upon a personnel check with those involved in the rescue, some concern was raised after Deputy Gross failed to report in and a search was started to locate him forty five minutes later. His vehicle was located on Pearson Street near the river, and his vest, boots, shirt and duty belt were located a short distance away near the river. The girl after being rescued  was taken to Memorial Hospital and remained   hospitalized. The North Platte River was higher than normal following heavy snows last winter and the river was running at 6,620 cubic feet per second at a nearby gauging station. The flow averages only 2,110 cfs on the same date over the past 60 years. People with expertise participating in the search and utilizing everything at their disposal were divers, people on jet skis, other water craft, along with planes, National Guard helicopter,  a Black Hawk helicopter from Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, teams of cadaver dogs,  and about fifty law enforcement that walked along the river. Deputies remained stationed on two bridges during night time and used searchlights powered by generators to maintain a watch on the river. Deputy Gross's K9 partner "Gus" was also used in the search to try and find his handler. Deputy Gross's body was recovered from the waters of the North Platte River in Douglas approximately 66 hours later by divers on 7/31/11 at 11:20 a.m. between the I-25 Bridge site and Anderson Dairy Bridge, 1.5 miles downstream from where he  was last seen entering the river. Deputy Bryan Gross is being hailed as a hero for attempting to save the girl from the high-flowing North Platte River in the town of Douglas. Deputy Gross had worked at the police department as a drug officer, handling a narcotic canine. Gross had been with the Converse County Sheriff's Office for approximately three months. Prior to joining the sheriff's office, he had been a member of the Douglas Police Department.  His K9 partner was "Gus". Deputy Gross is survived by his wife, Amy Spruiell Gross who he married 27 days earlier. Donations to the family of the fallen deputy can be made at the Converse County Bank, 322 Walnut Street, Douglas, 82633

Deputy Kyle Pagerly, 28, was shot and killed on 6/29/11 while trying to serve a warrant in Albany Township in Pennsylvania. The incident started at approximately 6:30 p.m. when state police, U.S. marshals and Berks County sheriff's deputies serving as marshals went to the Pine Swamp Road address to arrest Matthew Connor on charges of burglary, criminal trespass, violations related to the sale of firearms, terroristic threats, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person. The charges were related to an incident two days earlier at two homes in the first block on Pine Swamp Road for threatening his father, his sister, girlfriend and a family friend visiting the home by firing several rounds from two different handguns into the ground in front of them and telling them "yeah you better run,".  Two days before the shootout, Connor had said he wouldn't go down quietly. At one point, Connor put a revolver to his mouth acting as if he was going to shoot himself in front of his family. Upset that he ran out of ammunition from a revolver and a handgun, Connor went back into the family's house and retrieved a bulletproof vest and a shotgun, which he fired several times before heading into the woods. He has threatened in the past to want to provoke the police so they would shoot him, suicide by cop.  Connor's father, Maurice, is a retired Cherry Hill, N.J., police officer. Matthew Connor ran out of the back of the house and into the woods while his girlfriend was talking to police.  With authorities following him into the woods. As Canine Deputy, Kyle Pagerly, a Berks County sheriff's K-9 member moved up over a rise in the terrain, Connor rose up in complete camouflage including his face had a camouflage mask, his hands in camouflage gloves, and he was armed with two guns, two knives, and large capacity magazines with an AK-47. Authorities told him to drop the weapon and when he didn't, gunfire was exchanged  killing Connor and mortally wounding Pagerly. After Pagerly was shot, Jynx grabbed his partner's pants leg and tried to pull him to safety. Deputy Kyle Pagerly, who was wearing a vest was shot several times with at least one bullet the penetrated the vest, was pronounced dead at 8:44 p.m. at Lehigh Valley Hospital after being airlifted to the Salisbury Township facility. Matthew Connor, 25, of the first block of Pine Swamp Road, was killed at the scene.   After the shooting Matthew Connor's father gave police a suicide note left by his son. Pagerly served in the Army in Kosovo (2002) and Iraq (2003 and 2004). He was a military police officer. He joined the sheriff's department in 2006, according to the website. The K-9 Corps was formed in 2008. He also was a lieutenant in the Spring Township Fire Department. His K9 German Shepherd partner “Jynx” was not injured. Pagerly's badge number, 27, was permanently retired and K9 Jynx was retired from the force officially on 7/28/11 and given to the family. Jynx  retired from the force with full benefits. His medical care, grooming, boarding and food have all been donated for the rest of his life. In the days after Pagerly's death, Jynx would upend the clothes hamper, root out his T-shirts and sleep with them. Thousands attended Pagerly's funeral. Hundreds of K9 officers and their dogs also gathered for the service. Pagerly's  K9 Jynx, sat with the fallen deputy's family in the front row at the Sovereign Center for the service.  K9 Jynx was presented with the Berks County Sheriff Department's Medal of Honor for his lifesaving efforts on the night of the shooting. The Berks County Sheriff's Department honor guard conducted a 21-gun salute and the playing of Taps. Approximately three thousand people attended Pagerly's service. Kyle Pagerly is survived by his wife, Alecia Anne (Bird), whom he married December 12, 2007.  who is three months pregnant. Contributions may be made to the Kyle Pagerly Memorial Fund or the Berks County Sheriff's Department Honor Guard Fund., Attn: Sheriff's Dept, 633 Court St., Reading, PA 19601.

Sgt.  Aaron J. Blasjo

Lance Corporal Peter J. Clore, 23, of New Philadelphia, Ohio, was killed by enemy small arms fire on May 28 while serving in Afghanistan. He was a certified Explosives Detector Dog Handler, a position that put him ahead of his unit as they made their patrol. Clore and his Military Working Dog, Duke, were leading a unit in seeking out improvised explosive devices when he was shot by small-arms fire. His Military Working Dog, Duke, survived. He enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps in 2008. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. His first deployment came in 2009 as part of the 22nd Military Expedition Unit, Detachment A. In January, 2010, Peter was deployed to Haiti to assist in providing earthquake relief. Later in the year, he became a certified dog handler for the Marine Corps, preparing for the deployment to Afghanistan in March of 2011. Memorial contributions be made to the Peter Clore Memorial Fund in care of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 139 Third Street NE, New Philadelphia, OH 44663.

Maryland State Trooper, Shaft S. Hunter, 39, died in the line of duty when his police car slammed into a tractor-trailer on Interstate 95 at 2:40 a.m. while pursuing a speeding motorcyclist. The patrol car hit the rear of the tractor trailer and then traveled down the side of the trailer, coming to rest near the front of the trailer. The accident happened on I-95 South near the entrance of a rest stop south of route 32 in Howard County. Hunter was pronounced dead at the scene. The truck driver, Albert Sandino, 46, of California was not injured in the crash. He had been parked for about 15 minutes as he checked for directions. Sandino was pulling a trailer of household bleach from Aberdeen, Md., to Virginia. The motorcyclist, who was described as wearing a white helmet, has not been located. Hunter was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. Hunter joined the state police 11 years ago, after a stint with the Marines. The state police recruited him out of the Marine Corps. He was elected president of the 114th Trooper Candidate Class and spoke at his academy class graduation in June 2000. He went on to become Trooper of the Year, and worked with a task force that played a key role in catching the D.C. snipers. Hunter did moonlighting as a security guard at restaurants, stores and movie theaters to provide for his six children. Hunter was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut and graduated from St. Joseph's in 1990. Hunter, then a starting defensive back and running back, on Cadets teams that won back-to-back state titles in 1989 and `90, when he was a junior and senior. He held a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice from St. Augustine College in Raleigh, North Carolina. After college, he joined the United States Marine Corps, where he served from 1994 to 2000. He was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps with the rank of captain.. When his police dog, Bear, was recently retired from the force and Hunter took it home to live with his family. Hunter’s casket was carried to its final resting place by U.S. Marines. A traditional police burial was held for Trooper Hunter which included bagpipe players, a gun salute and an honor guard presentation at the Fallen Heroes Memorial section of the Timonium cemetery.   His German Sheppard, Bear, was brought to the funeral as well. Bear, 8, retired from police duty in 2009.   His children were ages 4 to 19.  All donations will be used to provide for the education of Hunter's six children. To donate to The Hunter  Children's Scholarship Fund donations can be sent to any M&T Bank branch in Maryland or can be mailed to M&T Bank, 207 Bowie Road, MD 20707.

Captain John Albert “Cal” Struk, Maine State Prison-retired, 67, died April 19, 2011, at his home following an extended illness, his loving family. For more than 23 years, he served as a corrections officer at Maine State Prison, retiring as a captain in 2003. He was a founding member and team leader for the MSP K9 Unit. While serving that unit his most special dog was his partner, Mac, a bloodhound who specialized in mantracking/search and rescue. He served several years with the U.S. Air Force Reserves. He is survived by his wife, Joy Ellen Mansfield Struk and three daughters, Jennifer S. Struk, Teresa M. Fish, and Karen E. Struk. Honors were rendered by the Maine State Prison Honor Guard. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, New England Division Inc., 1 Bowdoin Mill Island, Suite 300, Topsham, ME 04086; or the Humane Society of Knox County, P.O. Box 1294, Rockland, ME 04841.

Sergeant Ian Jones, 53, a member of West Mercia Police’s Dog Section, died suddenly from heart problems on March 2, 2011.  Sgt. Jones had been a member of the force for 25 years. He is survived by his wife Carol and five children, Sam, Mark, Hannah, Jodie and Zoe. Sgt.  Sgt Jones’ two police dogs – Dig, a general purpose dog who retired years ago but stayed with the family and Bertie, a drug dog who he helped train from a puppy – were at the funeral.

Lance Corporal Liam Richard Tasker

Lance Corporal Liam Tasker, 26, from Kirkcaldy in Scotland, was killed in the Afghanistan War by a snipers bullet in Helmand Province on 3/1/11 and his springer spaniel Theo died a few hours afterwards from a seizure, some say from a broken heart. The inseparable pair worked together searching for hidden bombs and weapons. L/Cpl Tasker, of the 1st Military Working Dog Regiment, was on patrol with Theo when he was engaged in a fire fight and was struck and killed instantly. He joined the army in 2001 and was originally a vehicle mechanic in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers then transferred to follow his passion for dogs in the Royal Army Vetinary Corps in 2007 where he became a star trainer. In 2010, he was posted to 104 Military Working Dog Squadron, St Georges Barracks, North Luffenham, Rutland, part of the 1st Military Working Dog Regiment. He deployed to Afghanistan on September 8, 2010 as an Arms and Explosives Search dog handler and was attached to 1st Battalion Irish Guards on 19 February 2011.  Lance Corporal Tasker and K9 Theo had been in Afghanistan for almost six months, uncovering roadside bombs and weapons in a dusty, dangerous daily routine.  He and his dog had more operational finds than any individual team has had in Afghanistan to date and he saved many lives as a result of this. Twenty two-month-old Theo had discovered a record-breaking 14 secret caches in five months. The ministry said then that Theo had been so successful, finding 14 hidden bombs and weapons caches, that his tour of duty had been extended by a month.  During the funeral route the mourners threw red, yellow and white roses onto the roof of the hearse which contained the coffin draped in a Union Jack. Many, from across the country, took along their dogs and lined the streets to pay their special respects to the army handler. The ashes of his Springer spaniel had been returned to RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire on the same flight from Afghanistan. Theo's ashes were not included in the cortege. A dozen dog handlers from police and prison forces around the country were among the crowds who also lined the streets. Theo's ashes are to be presented to L/Cpl Tasker's family at a later date during a private ceremony. Theo was the sixth British military dog killed in Iraq or Afghanistan since 2001. There are calls for Theo to receive the Dickin medal, which since 1943 has recognized wartime bravery by animals. L/Cpl Tasker’s father mentioned that his son Liam had been due to leave Afghanistan soon and was worried about being separated from K9 Theo but said now he doesn’t have to worry about that anymore, they will always be together. L/Cpl. Tasker is survived by his his mother Jane Duffy, his father Ian Tasker, his brother Ian, and his two sisters Laura and Nicola and his fiancee Leah Walters, age 33.

Col. Greg Malloy, 44, of DeFuniak Springs, a Florida corrections officer, was shot and killed on 2/2/11 while assisting in a manhunt. Malloy was working as part of the Holmes Correctional Institution's K-9 tracking team, which was assisting the Holmes County Sheriff's Office in the search for Wade Andrew Williams, an ex convict. Williams, 35, was wanted in the double homicide of his parents, Bruce and Sharon Williams in their Cottondale home in Florida. Both parents were killed on 1/26/11. A warrant had also been issued for Wade Williams for his arrest on a charge of grand theft auto. Wade Williams then fled to the Choctawhatchee River Management Area where he burned his father’s truck.  Williams subsequently camped in the management area evading arrest until confronted by a hunter, Thomas Crews, at approximately 8:00 a.m. when he came upon Wade Williams laying out some laundry at a  camp site.  When Thomas Crews encountered a man meeting Williams’ description and started talking to him. Wade Williams said he was going to kill him and fired eight shots from a .22-caliber rifle in Thomas Crews direction and Thomas Crews took cover behind a tree and returned on shot from his .30-06 rifle but missed. Wade Williams than ran off into the woods. Thomas Crews suffered a minor chest wound from shrapnel. Thomas Crews then called 911 and notified police of the incident and about  20 minutes later approximately 40 officers and a helicopter were searching for Wade Williams in the wooded area with a  nearly impassable swamp near a river. Thomas Crews helped police in a search for Williams because he was familiar with the area. After approximately one hour the tracking team encountered gun fire and Col. Greg Malloy and Wade Williams were both shot during the exchange of gunfire. Wade Williams was killed and Malloy was loaded on to a boat, then transported to a landing where a medical helicopter was waiting. Malloy, was airlifted to Fort Walton Beach Medical Center, where he later died. A second K9 officer, Arthur Teal,  was also wounded by a bullet that grazed him and was taken by ambulance for treatment. The hunt for Wade Williams had taken searchers to Alabama and Georgia, and multiple agencies were involved in the manhunt. Malloy started working at the Holmes County Correctional Institution in Bonifay for the Florida Department of Corrections in 1988 when he was 22 years old. He spent 19 years in Oka-loosa County. He also worked for the Washington Correctional Institution, now called the Northwest Florida Reception Center, and the To-moka Correctional Institution in Volusia County. He was promoted to colonel, the highest corrections officer designation, in Holmes County on July 23, 2010. Approximately fifteen hundred people attended the funeral and at the grave site bagpipes were played and a 21 gun salute was given. Col. Malloy leaves behind his wife Donna Sue Malloy and a 12 year old daughter, Payton Sue Malloy. Holmes Correctional Institute has set up a memorial fund for Colonel Malloy’s daughter and memorials may be made in Colonel Malloy’s memory to Holmes Correctional Institute, 3142 Thomas Drive, Bonifay, Florida 32425.

Wade Andrew Williams, who was shot and killed on 2/2/11, previously had a record and had been released from the Tallahassee Work Release Center in August 2009. He was sentenced to three years in prison after being convicted of several burglary and grand theft charges in 2005 and 2006.

Hydra Lacy had a long record that includes convictions for armed robbery and sexual battery. At age 17, Hydra Lacy Jr. was sentenced to four years for grand theft auto, attempted murder, aggravated assault and resisting arrest with violence. He served two years. Seven months after his release, he was arrested for kidnapping, aggravated child abuse, sexual battery with a weapon or force and battery on a law enforcement officer. A 16-year-old High School student told police she and Hydra Lacy dated briefly in 1991, but she broke it off. A few months later, she said, Lacy grabbed her outside her apartment one night, forced her into his car, then hit and raped her repeatedly. That earned him a 15-year prison sentence. He was released in 2001 after serving nine. He was listed as a sex offender with the state and had failed to register in December of 2010 with the Pinellas County Sheriff's Department as required. Deputies had been looking for him since then, and the sheriff's and police departments had issued bulletins on 1/21/11 for authorities to be on the lookout for Lacy. He was convicted of a car jacking in Jefferson County near Tallahassee when he was just 17 years old. He did time in 1990's after being convicted of aggravated assault, grand theft and resisting arrest with violence in Pinellas county just after his 18th birthday.  Lacy was sent back to state prison less than seven months after he got out, and this time he'd spend nine years in prison before being released . In 1992 he was convicted of sexual battery, false imprisonment of a child under 13 and again violence against law enforcement . He was granted a conditional release from state prison March 4, 2001. According to the Florida Department of Corrections, he violated the terms of his conditional release and returned to prison May 29, 2008. But the Parole Commission released him less than a week later. His conditional release supervision ended in November of 2008. In June 2009, he was back in court in Pinellas County and charged with aggravated domestic battery for beating his wife Christine Lacy, and false imprisonment. He admitted attacking his wife with two swords. Her injuries included being stabbed in the face and leg, a broken nose, two black eyes, cuts and bruises on the back of her head.  He broke several liquor bottles over the victim's head and was out of work for about six weeks. Lacy was ordered to have no contact with his wife, but he ignored the order and called his wife from jail at least 15 times. He bonded out of jail but skipped a court date on November 1, 2010. The court sent an electronic warrant for his arrest to the sheriff the next day, court records show. Given his record, a conviction could have sent him back to prison.  Hydra Lacy's brother, Jeff Lacy, is a professional boxing champion.

Lance Cpl. William “Billy” H. Crouse IV

Lance Cpl. William “Billy” H. Crouse IV, 22, and his K-9 officer, Cane, were killed on 12/21/10 in Afghanistan. Crouse,  and his K9 partner "Cane" were killed by an improvised explosive device while on patrol. At the scene of the blast Crouse was conscious enough to ask for his bomb dog, Cane, to be transported with him on the helicopter but  they  could not save K9 Cane. Crouse died at a hospital from cardiac arrest after being taken there from the field. It was Crouse's first tour of duty; he had been in Afghanistan for only six weeks when the blast occurred, and it was Cane's third tour of duty. The two were in Helmand province and assigned to 1st Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force based at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He joined the Marine Corps in November 2007 and was promoted to lance corporal August 1, 2008. He was born in Angola, Indiana and later moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana, and then to Clinton, South Carolina, in the mid 1990's with his family. He earned the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and was posthumously awarded a purple heart for his service. His funeral was held on 12/29/10  with  a burial in Covington Memorial Gardens with full military honors rendered by the U.S. Marine Corps. Memorial Donations may be made to: the Arthritis Foundation, Fairview Missionary Church, Stroh Church of Christ, the Wounded Warrior Project or the Save the Children Organization.   

Eutaw  Police Chief Tommy Summerville, 56, died from complications during heart surgery on 12/9/10 at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Birmingham. He had been on the force for the past 33 years. He joined the Eutaw Police Force in 1977. He was certified as an NRA Police Firearms Instructor, and he was chosen as an "Outstanding Young Man of America" in 1986. In March 1998, Tommy was named Assistant Chief of Police. In March 2000, he was certified by the Alabama Canine Law Enforcement Training Center and became the narcotics dog handler. In September 2007, Tommy became the Chief of Police. He was the department's first K-9 officer and for several years he and his K-9 partner "Rain" visited many schools and gave demonstrations to the students. He was a dog handler before he made chief and kept on as a dog handler because that is what he loved doing. He is survived by his wife, Gloria Leavelle Summerville and his son, James Lowery Summerville. The family requests that donations be made to the city of Eutaw earmarked to purchase a new narcotics dog.

         

         

         

Sgt. Roderick Dalton, 45, died unexpectedly at Community General Hospital  on 11/16/10 after a short illness. was one of the commanding officers of the department's K-9 Unit. Sgt Dalton served the Syracuse Police Department for the last 22 years.  He leaves behind his K9 partner Niko. Memorial contributions in memory of Rod may be made to Syracuse Police department P.B.A., 511 S. State Street, Syracuse, NY 13202.

Sgt. John Jeffrey Gates, 64, of Cicero, NY, died at home on 10/10/10. He was recognized as one of the state's founding fathers of modern police dog training. He was renowned for helping the state develop its canine training and certification and also for helping to create the canine units for the Syracuse police and other agencies. In the early 1980s, Gates became handler for Central New York's first police dog, Shamus, Gates trained more than 200 dogs in his career and traveled to Europe to study the dogs in their natural environment. He also helped train police dogs in the Czech Republic and Israel, as well as across the United States. Dogs that Gates trained assisted in the seizure of millions of dollars in drug money and the arrest of hundreds of criminals. Sgt. Jeff Gates, is 32-year member of the Onondaga County Sheriff's Office and retired from there in 2006.  John was an Air Force veteran, serving during the Vietnam War. Gates' ashes was spread along the canine training course in Camillus, and the dogs and their handlers  passed by to offer tribute. Sgt. John Gates is survived by his wife, Donna (Sobello) Gates; two sons, Christopher (Toni) Gates and Matthew (Jeanna).

 

Staff Sgt. Brian Michael Carragher, 29, was shot to death with a 9mm semi-automatic on 9/18/10 shortly after 5:30 p.m. in front of his California City home in the 8900 block of Walpole Avenue as he tried to tell a man to leave his home.  Carragher was found bleeding severely in the street and was airlifted to Antelope Valley Hospital and pronounced dead there about an hour later. Carragher was shot at five times and struck four times.  Staff Sgt. Brian Carragher was shot three times in the back and once in the back of his upper right arm. The suspect, 26-year-old Timothy Aaron Atkins had pulled a gun from his pickup truck, shot Carragher and then fled the scene. Officers later found his vehicle in the 20300 block of 87th Street and arrested him without incident. Atkins ex-girlfriend, Brooke Youngo, was renting space in Carragher's home along with her new boyfriend, Matthew Pearman. Pearman was a security officer at Edwards Air Force Base. Atkins drove over to the home to speak with Youngo and he brought a gun with him in case he wanted to shoot Pearman. Carragher was at a local motorcycle shop with his girlfriend, MIchelle Jones, at the time Atkins came to his home. Pearman answered the door and told Atkins he could talk with Youngo, but he had to go across the street to do so. Atkins and Youngo went near Atkins' pickup and talked. Pearman went to the motorcycle shop to tell Carragher what was going on. Carragher returned home and began talking to Atkins, telling him to leave. That's when Atkins reached in the truck and fired at Carragher. He joined the Air Force in 2003 to become a K-9 officer. Carragher was a military working dog handler assigned to the 95th Security Forces Squadron and stationed at Edwards Air Force Base and had just returned home from his second tour in Iraq on August 1, 2010. Atkins also recently returned to California City after serving two tours in the Army in Iraq. Carragher and his wife, Jackie, bought the home on Walpole Drive around October 2009. Brian Carragher had filed for divorce on 9/16/10. He is survived by his wife of six years, Jackie, and twin four-year-old daughters Maddison and Hayley.  He is also survived by his military working dog, Eddy. "Because of his age, Eddy was soon to be retired and Sgt Carragher was going to adopt him. Donations can be made out for his daughters' college fund. Send Donations made out to Hayley and Maddison Carragher at Summit National Bank, P.O. BOX 395, Baggs, WY 82321.

Timothy Aaron Atkins was arrested on 9/18/10 and held without bail and charged with 1^st degree murder.  Atkins made his first court appearance on 9/21/10 for arraignment for the shooting death of Air Force Staff Sergeant Brian Carragher and was delayed until 9/29/10 and ordered held in jail on $1.5 million bail. On his court appearance on 9/29/10 Atkins pleaded not guilty and being represented by attorney Richard Terry . Further hearings were set Nov. 22 & 23, 2010. with  Atkins remaining in custody in lieu of posting $1.5 million bail.

Sergeant Thomas Alexander was shot and killed on 9/11/10 while responding to a burglary in progress in Richland Parish. A woman had called 911 at 9:04 p.m. to report the sound of breaking glass. Sergeant Alexander, who was the closest officer to the location, despite the call coming from outside of the city limit responded at 9:15 p.m. Sergeant Alexander was the first officer to arrive at the scene and checked on the victim and entered the building without backup. Three suspects were hidden inside and ambushed Sergeant Alexander and opened fire as he conducted the search and approached a closet. Sgt. Alexander was shot numerous times and pronounced dead at the scene. Responding deputies heard the shots as they arrived on the scene and took one of the suspects, Robert J. Walker, who was hiding under a bed, into custody inside the home. The two other suspects, Anthony D. Oatis was arrested two hours later in Richland Parish and Richard L. Long was arrested the next day in Monroe were apprehended a short time later. He received many commendations and certificates of appreciation for his outstanding and dedicated service. Sergeant Alexander had served with the Rayville Police Department for 13 years and had previously served with the Richland Parish Sheriff's Office for seven years. He is survived by his wife Mary Louise Alexander, and four daughters, Deborah Jackson (Willie), TaShekia V. Alexander, Amelia Alexander, and LaDeanna Davis along with his K9 partner "Stef". His son, Thomas Cherdale Alexander, preceded him in death. Over one thousand people attended Sergeant Thomas Alexander's funeral. 

Robert J. Walker, 52, of Rayville and Anthony D. Oatis, 30, and Richard L. Long, 33, both of Monroe, were arrested and indicted on first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder charges and conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary, and aggravated burglary on 9/13/10 and are currently being held without bond. All three are facing pre-trial hearings Feb. 2 in 5th Judicial District Court. On 10/20/10 Anthony D. Oatis entered his plea of not guilty. Bond was later set for all three and are being held on $1.25 million bond. The three men are expected to go to trial beginning March 21, 2011.

Sgt. Brigham Strole was killed after being thrown from his motorcycle while off duty at about 9 p.m. on 9/1/10 which happened one block from his home. There were no other vehicles involved and investigators think he might have hit the curb or a pot hole in the road. Strole was ejected from the motorcycle and airlifted to Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, where he died. The accident, which happened on Jordan Court just south of the intersection with Jonquil Avenue. Strole was not wearing a helmet. He was as a K-9 officer for seven years. He and his canine partner Blue were considered one of the top teams in the country, at one point ranked 13th nationally. Strole also served as a member of the SWAT team, as an instructor for firearms and defensive tactics, and as a field training officer. Sgt. Strole was a 20-year officer of the Lakeville Police Department and received numerous commendations and awards during his career. Strole leaves behind two teenage sons, Jacob and Jenna Strole and their mother, Lynn Strole. Memorials may be sent to the Sgt. Brigham Strole Memorial Fund, c/o M&I Bank, 17636 Kenwood Trail, Lakeville, MN 55044.

 

Maj. Paul A. Egli 

August 31, 2010 - Fort Stewart, Georgia  - Age 54

 

 

Paul Egli died 8/31/10 in his Fort Stewart, Georgia  apartment building 9727, after medical services received a 911 call.  Maj. Egli was to retire in just two weeks from the U.S. Army. Paul served proudly on the Franklin TN Police Department for 10 years from 1994-2004 where he was a K-9 officer with his partner Kahn. Winning awards at the National level, they were also recognized by the FBI for assisting in the capture of six escapees from Alabama known at the time as "The Alabama 6" in 2001. The duo was involved in the apprehension of several felons. Paul was selected as an assistant professor of military science in the ROTC Program at the University of Hawaii.  Egli was a major with the U.S. Army, and a military police officer. Egli joined the Army in 1981. He deployed twice, first in support of Desert Shield/Desert Storm and most recently to Operation Iraqi Freedom and was last assigned to Fort Stewart, Ga. Paul was buried with full military honors. Donations may be made to any of the following charities that meant a lot to Egli: Seeing Eye Dog Organization; The American Heart Association; St Jude Children's Hospital. He is survived by his wife, Vicky Egli; children, Jon-Thomas Egli, Emma Egli, Katie Egli, and Erin Dolezal.

 

   

Lance Cpl. Jeffrey R. Standfest 

Jeff Standfest, 23, of China Township in St. Clair, Michigan, died while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan on June 16, 2010. He was killed by an IED. Jeff Standfest was deployed in April for his first tour of duty. Standfest, recently returned to duty after suffering a concussion in an explosion in an incident that killed his bomb sniffing K9 in May of 2010. He had returned to duty with a new K9 in which he was killed in this incident. Jeff Standfest was a canine handler and a combat engineer. Standfest was assigned to 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, Calif. Standfest had been awarded the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the NATO Medal. The Corporal had enlisted in the Marine Corps in October 2008. He is the son of Detective Timothy Standfest, of the Clinton Township police who is a 25-year law enforcement veteran specializing in fraud investigations.

 Flyveroverkonstabel Martin Kristiansen  

Darren Smith 

Darren Smith, 26, a K-9 handler was killed along with his K9 Herbie, a 3 1/2 year old Collie Cross, by a road side bomb in Afghanistan while on patrol for his country of Australia on June 7, 2010. His friend, Jacob Moerland, 21, found the explosive device and sounded a warning. He then called up his friend Darren Smith along with his K9 partner Herbie.  As they approached the device, it detonated. A Taliban insurgent had detonated the device by remote control.  Both Darren Smith and Jacob Moerland were from the 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment. This was their first deployment for both soldiers. They were on a routine foot patrol in the remote Mirabad Valley. It was just before lunchtime when an improvised explosive device, or IED, detonated. Darren Smith was killed at the time of the explosion and Jacob Moerland  received emergency first aid from his patrol mates and was subsequently, aero-medical evacuated to a nearby International Security Assistance Force hospital. It took just 38 minutes for a US medivac chopper to get the Moerland to the Dutch-run and Australian-staffed field hospital at Camp Holland in Tarin Kowt where he died from his wounds. Smith's military career commenced as part of the Army Reserve enlisting November 29, 2001 and completing Recruit training in January 2002, serving as part of 3rd Field Squadron, South Australia.  Smith went on to complete his Combat Engineer suite of courses in 2004 and become part of the Australian Regular Army where he was posted to 1st Combat Engineer Regiment in Oct 2004. He completed a number of driver courses up to heavy vehicle and Armored Personnel Carrier.  He successfully completed his Explosive Detection Dog Handler course in December 2006. He completed his Junior Leader Course in November 2008. Smith was posted to 2 CER in January 2009.  He deployed in March 2010. As part of his tour he has been awarded the Australian Active Service Medal with Clasp International Campaign against Terrorism, NATO Service Medal and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal. He also has received his Return from Active Service Badge.  Smith has also been awarded the Australian Defense Medal. In recognition of the bond between the pair, Herbie was cremated in Afghanistan and his ashes returned to Smith's widow, Angela. Smith leaves behind his wife Angela and a 2-1/2 yr old son - Mason who live in Brisbane, Australia.

Officer Bill Evans, 38,  was shot and killed on May 20, 2010 in West Memphis, Arkansas during a traffic stop while "running drug interdiction" on Interstate 40. The events started when Evans stopped a white 1994 Plymouth Voyager minivan with Ohio plates at 11:36 a.m. traveling eastbound on I-40 at Airport Road and then exited the Interstate onto an off-ramp near College Avenue. Sgt. Brandon Paudert, 39, a back up officer arrived on the scene within moments of the traffic stop. The suspects in the white mini van exited the vehicle with AK 47 assault rifles and shot canine officer Bill Evans and his back up officer Sgt. Brandon Paudert. During the shooting canine officer Bill Evan's partner, K9 "Kilo", was in Evan's vehicle. Paudert, the son of West Memphis' police chief, died at the scene and Evans died at a hospital shortly after. Both officers were wearing their vests. The suspects, Jerry Kane, 45, and his son, Joseph Kane, 16, then drove off in the white mini van. About 90 minutes later, a minivan that had been seen leaving the shooting site was spotted in a parking lot of a nearby Wal-Mart. There, it was approached by Crittenden County Sheriff Dick Busby and Chief Enforcement Officer W.A. Wren, who were traveling in the same vehicle. Both officers were wounded in a gun battle initiated by the suspects. Sheriff Dick Busby was shot in the arm and Chief Enforcement Officer W.A. Wren was shot in the abdomen and air lifted to Regional Medical Center at Memphis, where they were in critical condition. Officer  Michael Neal, a Arkansas Fish and Game wildlife officer in his state truck, had rammed the suspect vehicle, preventing an exit of the suspects who were then shot and killed. Neal's bravery likely put a stop to a hail of gunfire that had already wounded Crittenden County Sheriff Dick Busby and his deputy chief, W.A. Wren.  The Kane's family dog "valor" who was in the white van with them was shot eight times died 3 days later. Services for the both officers were held at Lehr Arena four hours apart from each other. Officer Evans K9 partner "Kilo" attended the service along with thousands who paid their respect. Officer Evans was with West Memphis Police Department for nine years. Evans, a 38-year-old father of two who was engaged to be married. Donations can be made to Bill Evans & Brandon Paudert at Suntrust bank or Wachovia Bank.

Jerry Kane had a long history with police and recently complained about being busted at a "Nazi checkpoint" near Carrizozo, N.M., where court records show he spent three days in jail before posting a $1,500 bond on charges of driving without a license and concealing his identity. Warnings were given to officers on July 21, 2004, about Kane, saying he might be dangerous to law enforcement.  Kane had complained in July 2004 about being sentenced to six days of community service for driving with an expired license plate and no seat belt, saying the judge had tried to "enslave" him.  Kane added that he was a "free man" and asked for $100,000 per day in gold or silver.

Sheriff Deputy Ian Michael Deutch, 27, was shot and killed 4/26/10 in a casino parking lot in Nevada. Ian Deutch was driving with a field training officer when they responded after gunfire was first reported at a home a short distance from Terrible's Lakeside Casino & RV Park in Pahrump, Nevada. Sabrina Hepler had called 911 at 3:41 p.m. from her vehicle who told dispatchers that she was in a car and her boyfriend James Lacy Chaffin, 30, was in a pickup, following her and firing at her. She told dispatchers that she was going to the casino to escape him. Dispatchers told her not to do that because she would be heading away from sheriff's deputies who were going to try to pull Chaffin's truck over. She chose to park her vehicle and flee inside the casino anyway, with Chaffin following her. A short time later, Chaffin went back outside the casino, got into his vehicle and began driving around the parking lot. As Deutch and his field training officer were pulling up to the scene, they saw a parked, empty pickup in the parking lot with a white car pulling up in front of them. Because the girlfriend told dispatchers that Chaffin was driving a pickup and that she was driving a car, they got out of their department-issued pickup to look for the suspect inside the casino. But Chaffin was in the car, and in less than two seconds, he fired at least 11 rounds from an SKS Soviet 7.62x39mm caliber  semi-automatic rifle, which had a 30-round clip, striking Deutch five times piercing his body armor as he was just getting out of the driver's side -- three times in the chest and once each in the knee and pelvic area.  When the shooting happened both men were less than twelve feet apart from one another. Surveillance video of the incident showed there was little that could have been done to protect Deutch.  The shooting that killed Deutch was an unprovoked attack. Deputy Doug McKillips, 45, a seven-year department veteran, was with Deutch responding  in a marked sheriff's department pickup truck and escaped injury. A third deputy, Deputy Tom Klenczar, 39, a six-year veteran of the department arrived in a patrol vehicle and shot Chaffin four times in the back as Chaffin shot at Deutch killing the gunman at the scene. James Lacy Chaffin's girlfriend was not injured.  Deutch was flown by medical helicopter to University Medical Center in Las Vegas, where he underwent surgery but died approximately 9:00 p.m.  The whole disturbance began after Chaffin's ex-girlfriend,  refused to talk with Chaffin about the status of their relationship. She had been temporarily staying with a friend and his wife. About 3:30 p.m. she drove to the friends house on Cajon Lane, a block from the casino, to pick up the rest of her belongings. She was about to move to Arizona to stay with different friends,  A "calm, reasonable" Chaffin was waiting for Sabrina in her friends living room. Chaffin was under the impression that his girlfriend was willing to talk. When she refused, Chaffin took her keys and purse and refused to let her leave until she agreed to discuss their situation. He wanted to split everything down the middle because they had been together 12 years. She didn't want to give him a straight answer about if it was over or not, and started yelling and screaming getting Chaffin upset. She finally called police and fled in a co-worker's vehicle. An enraged Chaffin pursued her with a handgun, shooting out a tire and firing multiple shots through the vehicle's back window. A friend  tried to calm Chaffin but it was too late and Chaffin followed her to the casino. Deutch a staff sergeant and squad leader was a meritorious service medal winner and among 752 soldiers with the 1st Squadron, 221st Calvary who had just returned home 2 days earlier from Afghanistan identifying Taliban targets for artillery strikes outside combat outpost Nagil. Ian Deutch was a  ten-year veteran of the Nevada Army National Guard. Sheriff Deputy Ian Deutch joined the department as a patrol deputy on April 12, 2004 and six months later, he was transferred to the K-9 detail and was a canine officer until he was killed. Sheriff Deputy Ian Deutch  was one of Nye County's 108 sworn deputies to cover more than 18,000 square miles. He was assigned to K-9 Patrol with his faithful partner. About 1,000 people attended the memorial service. Deutch's flag-draped coffin was carried in the back of a pickup from the Nye County Sheriff's Office. "Taps" was played by a pair of buglers, riflemen on the roof of the church fired a 21-gun salute, a five-piece police band played "Amazing Grace" on bagpipes and drums, and a police dispatcher went on the radio to broadcast that "K9-3," Deutch's call sign, was at the "end of watch."  K9 Chico attended the service of his handler and was given to Deputy Ian Deutch's family . Deputy Ian Deutch was cremated after the service.  Sheriff Deputy Deutch  left behind a wife, Vicky; a 5-year-old daughter, Savonya; and an 18-year-old stepson, Jonathan and his K9 partner "Chico". Ian and Vicky wed in March 2009, shortly before his deployment to Afghanistan. A memorial fund has also been set up under Deutch’s name at Nevada State Bank, 1301 S. Highway 160, under the account No. 0258040427.

 

Sgt. Sean Cuccaro, 45, died on 4/1/10.  Just two days after learning of cancer in his liver, Cuccaro was hospitalized March 26, and his condition deteriorated quickly. Cuccaro joined the Sebastopol Police Department on Jan. 31, 1984, when he was appointed a control aide, and on April 5 that same year, was appointed as a reserve officer taking on his first shift on April 26. He was promoted to dispatcher in July the following year, and finally entered the Police Academy January 1988. Upon his graduation in April, he was appointed a full-time officer. On Nov. 1, 2003, he was promoted to Corporal, and on Oct. 1, 2006, promoted to sergeant, a position he held until his retirement on Aug. 1, 2008 due to a back injury. He served with the Sebastopol Police Department for 25 years and received his Associates Degree in Law Enforcement at Santa Rosa Junior College. During his tenure with the SPD, Cuccaro also served as the K-9 officer with his partners Ike and Raydar. In 1994, Cuccaro was honored, as Sonoma County's Police Officer of the Year for rescuing a Sebastopol resident from a burning building. Approximately one thousand people attended his funeral along with 10 K9 units. He is survived by daughters Amanda Cuccaro and Ashley Cuccaro as well as his service canine, Raydar. Contributions to the Sonoma County Chapter of the American Cancer Society, 1451 Guerneville Road, Suite 220, Santa Rosa, CA, 95403, or to charity are requested.

Cpl. J.R. Searcy, 33, was finishing his 12 hour day shift  around 6 p.m. on  3/4/10  when he  arrived at the scene to back up another deputy . Searcy, who was off duty at the time, responded to a call .  He just finished his shift, but went out to assist a fellow deputy. He was responding to a call about a reported aggravated assault on Browning Road near Louisiana 34 in southwestern Ouachita Parish.  It was reported that a suspect, Michael Tanner, 26,  had tried to run people over with his vehicle. When the deputies arrived, they confronted the suspect standing outside of his vehicle. Corporal Searcy had his Taser in his hand, and ordered the suspect to put his hands up who was approximately 15 yards away. As the suspect raised his hands, he suddenly pulled  a .40 caliber handgun that he had concealed in the small of his back, and opened fire, striking Corporal Searcy twice.  Cpl. Searcy didn't have a chance to pull his weapon from his holster. The second deputy returned fire, killing the suspect. Corporal Searcy was taken to St. Francis Medical Center. One bullet went through the brain, and the other was lodged at the base of his brain. His spinal cord was severed. The bullet went in through the armhole of Searcy's bulletproof vest, and ricocheted through the top of his spinal cord. A brain scan conducted two days later found no activity and was pronounced dead around 10:40 p.m., two days later on 3/6/10. Searcy's family was making arrangements with the Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency to allow the deputy to become an organ donor, and so the life support apparatus had remained on. Corporal Searcy had served  with  the Ouachita Parish  Sheriff's Office for eight years. He also served in the United States Air Force 4 years as a military police officer. He was also a successful business owner of C&K Searcy Enterprises, a lawn care business. Approximately 4,000 attended his funeral. Honor guards from Monroe, West Monroe, Louisiana State Police and the Sheriff's Office will participate in the funeral. Kilpatrick Funeral Home donated its services and the burial plot for Searcy. Mulhearn Funeral Home also offered to provide services. Forty K-9 officers and their dogs from various law enforcement agencies lined the cemetery road leading to the grave. The State Police Color Guard conducted a 21-gun salute for Searcy at the cemetery. Horse-mounted officers and K-9 officers were stationed at the cemetery. The U.S. Secret Service contacted President Barack Obama's office to get a letter from the president to present to Searcy's family. "J.R." has worked with the Secret Service when dignitaries came to town.   He is survived by  his  wife, Kerry, of nine years and  three  children, a son Justin, a daughter Maegan and step son Nicholas Lambert.  Donations to the Family of Corporal Searcy can be made at any Progressive Bank at any of the following locations, Monroe: 1411 North 19th Street or 1398 Lamy Lane, West Monroe: 3421 Cypress Street or 701 Trenton Street.,  Winnsboro: 301 Fair Avenue or Bossier: 2600 Beene Blvd with Account Number 4022289.

Michael Tanner has a lengthy record with the sheriff's office. The departments in Monroe and West Monroe had dealings with him many times. He has been arrested more than ten times.  His arrests include anything from drug possession to simple assault. Sept. 19, 2001 - Careless operation of a vehicle, May 30, 2002 - Speeding, June 19, 2002- Drug possession, June 21, 2002 - Careless operation of a vehicle, Dec. 12, 2002 - Illegal deer hunting, discharge of firearms, Oct. 17, 2003 - Following too closely, Jan. 14, 2004 - Reckless operation of a vehicle, June 23, 2004 - Drug possession, June 16, 2005 -  Speeding, July 12, 2006 - Obstructing the view of the driver, June 15, 2006 - Expired license plate, Nov. 8, 2006 - Failure to register, Nov. 29, 2006 - Driving while intoxicated, Feb. 13, 2008 - Criminal trespassing, Nov. 10, 2008 - Driving without proper equipment on vehicle, Nov. 13, 2008 - Illegal passing, June 14, 2009 - Disturbing the peace, Nov. 23, 2009 - Stop sign and yield sign, and Dec. 21, 2009 - Domestic abuse battery.  In December of 2009 Tanner was arrested for domestic abuse against his girlfriend.  She alleged he grabbed her throat and threatened to hit her. His court date on the domestic abuse battery charge was scheduled for March 30, 2010. In 2006, he was arrested for another domestic abuse charge against another girlfriend. In June of 2009 Ouachita Parish deputies picked Tanner up for aggravated assault with a knife, against his father. The two had an argument ending with Tanner pulling a knife on his father.  After initially entering a plea of innocent and failing to appear at one of the court dates, Tanner pleaded guilty to the charge. He paid a fine and courts costs totaling $296.

 

Captain Carrie Henger Neff, 54, died on March 5, 2010 at 1:30 a.m. after a 4 & 1/2 year battle with ovarian cancer, which was service-related. On May 18, 2010, the Los Angeles County Fire Department honored her and her K-9 partner, Sprocket, on what would would have been both of their birthdays. Carrie Henger Neff was the first woman in the LA County Fire Department's Honor Guard. Her first K-9 partner was Spanner and was certified in accelerant detection and was a duel purpose dog. At the time Spanner  was the only one that they  were aware of in the United States that could actually do both and be accepted as an expert in court for arson. After the death of Spanner, Carrie chose Sprocket as her new canine partner. She also worked with Doc, her search and rescue dog, and partner in California Task Force 2. At the end of his career, Sprocket was also diagnosed with cancer, a tumor in his spleen, which caused severe pain and her husband Bob made the difficult decision to put Sprocket down just a week after Carried died. Carrie was a pioneer, helping to develop the LA County Fire Department's K9 program and served 18 years. Carrie's love for animals was a constant throughout her life. Before going into the fire service, she trained many animals for movies and television shows. When Carrie went into the fire service, she learned what a key element the service dogs play for arson and search and rescue, which was a perfect way for her to use her two passions. She dedicated her career to the development of service dog programs within the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Carrie's last deployment was with her search dog Doc at Hurricane Katrina in 2005. When teams were being deployed to Haiti in January, Carrie was retired, but saw her vision become a reality when the dogs from L.A. County Fire Department, along with other departments, were able to locate human life beneath the rubble. Carrie was a past director of the Canine Accelerant Detection Association and trained with them for many years. She also was a member of the North American Police Work Dog Association. She  also  was honored as WeTIP's Fire Investigator of the Year. Carrie and Bob had celebrated their first wedding anniversary just a few weeks before on Feb. 14, 2010. Carrie chose to be cremated. Carrie is survived by her husband, Bob Neff, also a fellow Captain that retired from the City of Riverside Fire Department. Donations can be made to the Humane Society of Moab Valley.

Rawlinson, who retired from the Tulsa Police Department as a sergeant in 1981. He died February 21, 2010, at the age of 75.  In  the 1960s, his first K9 partner, "Doc". patrolled together as part of the Tulsa Police Department's new K-9 unit. Rawlinson, launched the unit with another officer in 1962. He served in the Marines during the Korean War. Rawlinson began his career with the Tulsa Police Department in 1961. He received K-9 training in Kansas City, Mo., the next year Rawlinson worked with Doc for years until the dog was diagnosed with brain cancer. In 1966, while Rawlinson was off duty, he "missed death by the skin of his thumb," He was working at a laundry he owned when he heard a traffic accident outside. He went out and saw a man fleeing into a nearby gas station. Rawlinson and an on-duty deputy sheriff followed him into the station's restroom, where the man shoved a German Luger into Rawlinson's stomach. As the man tried to pull the trigger, the web of skin between Rawlinson's thumb and index finger prevented the gun's hammer from firing. He was named Officer of the Month for his bravery. After 20 years of service, Rawlinson retired from the Police Department at age 46 as a sergeant. His wife, Joyce Eudy , died in 1991.  He is survived by three daughters, Rise Bennett, Dana Hardy, and Aubrey Hill; two sons, Randy Rawlinson  and Doug Rawlinson.

Officer Charlie Dallas, 56, a twenty year veteran of the Lakeland Police Department died on 1/18/10 in a two-vehicle collision at 4:20 p.m.  on U.S. 27 and Jackson Street, just south of Lake Wales after his SUV Ford Explorer  overturned and was declared dead at the scene. According to the Florida Highway Patrol the accident happened when Federico Vasquez, 23, of Sebring was driving a 2006 Pontiac G6 south on U.S. 27 and swerved left to avoid hitting a 1989 Ford station wagon, driven by Sharon Kolbinskie, 54, of Lake Wales, who was crossing the road at Jackson Street. Vasquez crossed the median and into Dallas' path. The left side of Vasquez's car struck the left side of Dallas' 2008 Ford Explorer and Dallas lost control of the SUV and it rolled over, throwing him out. Vasquez and his passenger, Katie Boyette, were not injured. Polk County emergency workers called for a helicopter, but by the time it arrived, Dallas had died. Dallas, at the time was working an off-duty detail for Lakeland Regional Medical Center and was not wearing a seat belt. Dallas' passenger, Karyn Spencer, 33, of Lakeland was taken to Lake Wales Regional Medical Center for unknown injuries. Spencer was a Lakeland Regional Medical Center employee accompanying Dallas on a patient transfer. The two were on their way back to Lakeland in the Lakeland Regional Medical Center vehicle. The others involved in the crash were wearing seat belts. Charges in the crash are pending. Officer Charlie Dallas, had been named the department's Officer of the Year in 1996 and 2000.  He was a canine handler for nineteen years and handled 3 dogs in his career and even kept his last dog, Dinx, after he retired. Officer Dallas and his K9 Dynx won top 4-man team honors in the USPCA Region One trials held in Pensacola in 2008 which made it the third year in a row the Lakeland Police Department K-9 Unit claimed the top 4-man team award. Others that comprised the team were Officer Ted Sealey (K-9 Bodo), Officer Jeff Barrett (K-9 Beno), and Officer Rob Manrow (K-9 Bask). The team competed against approximately 50 other teams to win the award. Officer Dallas and K9 Dynx came in 6th in the top 10 individual standings that year. Dallas received the department's Medal of Valor for his actions while catching two murder suspects in 1999. He also received an award after a double murder in 2008 in which  police tracked down the shooting suspect, who was pointing a short-barrel shotgun to his head and threatening to kill himself. Dallas persuaded the suspect to put down the gun and the man was taken into custody. Officer Dallas had planned to retire in a couple of months He is survived by his wife Elaine and their sons Dustin and Justin. The Dallas family is asking that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the K-9 unit of Lakeland Police Department.

Officer McLaughlin passed away of natural causes unexpectedly at his home while sleeping on January 10, 2010.  Officer McLaughlin was a 21-year veteran of the Foster City Police Department. Mike was a well respected member of the Department and well known throughout the State for his experience and expertise with police service dogs. Officer McLaughlin joined the Foster City Police Department in 1989 after serving five years in the United States Army.  He graduated as the "Top Student" from the San Francisco Police Department Academy in May, 1989.  During his career, Mike received numerous commendations and accolades from the public. In April 2006, Mike was credited with saving the life of a 25 year-old man by administering CPR.  In March 2008, he was one of three officers who rescued an intoxicated driver who had driven her car into the Foster City lagoon.  This life saving action was recognized in 2009 by the Peninsula Council of Lions Clubs, when Officer McLaughlin received their Heroism Award. Officer McLaughlin served as a canine officer for 16 years, starting in 1993 and had five different service dogs during his career.  He competed locally and internationally with his canine partners and regularly took high honors during annual canine trials held in the local area. McLaughlin's passion for dogs sent him to Europe several times, landed him on the cable TV program "MythBusters". Around 1993 he started working closely with Witmer-Tyson Imports in Menlo Park, a kennel and import business that provides police dogs and training to 40 law enforcement agencies in the Bay Area. McLaughlin helped train dogs and officers, but he also spent a lot of his spare time at the company's headquarters. In 2007, he also ended up on camera, when an episode of "MythBusters" was staged at the Witmer-Tyson Kennels. During his appearance, McLaughlin brought out a fierce German shepherd named Eewan, who was used to test whether it is possible to effectively distract a guard dog. Over the 16 years he was involved with the kennel, McLaughlin took part in the training of nearly 250 dogs and their handlers. He also got heavily involved in the Menlo Park Schutzhund Club. McLaughlin did well in trials and ended up on a U.S. team that competed in an international police dog competition in Germany in 1998 and also competed in Austria. McLaughlin was known to demanded a lot out of his trainees in the name of quality and safety. He was a well respected canine handler in the community  and trained and worked with police canine handler teams from around northern California.  Mike was well known locally for his community presentations with his various service dogs.  He taught at the Citizens Police Academy and participated in canine demonstrations at Foster City community events, schools, youth groups and was a regular invitee to public canine presentations in several other local communities. Mike's son, Michael Jr. is picking up where his father left off and is a trainer at the Witmer-Tyson Kennels.  Mike is survived by his wife Kathy, sons Mike Jr. and Chris, and daughter Kim age 14. The Foster City Police Officers' Association has established the McLaughlin Family Trust at Merrill Lynch.  Donations can be made by calling 925-945-4882.

Cpl. James Szuba

Shawn Devine has been in the police system many times. Devine was first convicted in 1997 when he was 18 years old for violating his learner's permit and disregarding a stop sign. In the course of 13 years, Devine was arrested for six more driving offenses, five of which ended in convictions and four of which were related to alcohol. In a 2002 incident in Mishawaka, Devine smashed into a woman's parked car near the 200 block of East Stanley and drove off. Mishawaka police caught up with the man at a 7-Eleven store where Devine failed multiple roadside sobriety tests and officers also found four unopened cans of "Icehouse" lying on the floorboard of Devine's car. Devine pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated in the case, in exchange for two other counts being dismissed. He was given one year of probation, ordered to pay restitution and ordered to undergo a substance abuse program, which he successfully completed. Devine also had drunken driving convictions in 2005 and 2006 and a driving-while-suspended infraction in 2007. In the 2006 case, Devine was charged with two Class C misdemeanors along with two Class D felonies for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated after a prior conviction and operation of a vehicle with more than 0.08 percent alcohol concentration after a prior conviction. As part of a plea agreement, Devine pleaded guilty to the first D felony count and the three other counts were dismissed. St. Joseph Superior Judge Jerome Frese then sentenced Devine to a one-year suspended sentence and one year of probation. Devine also was ordered to serve three 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. shifts at the county jail. The 2006 case was the only infraction considered as a felony in Devine's driving history. Police documents from Devine's 2006 arrest say Devine has never had a valid Indiana license and dispatch data showed repeated suspensions and prior convictions on only an expired ID card. On July 20, 2009, in Michigan, a drug informant notified Niles City Police Department he was arrested for the delivery of marijuana at the Wal-Mart, 2107 S. 11th St. When a female driver of the silver SUV in which Devine and another male were riding pulled into the Wal-Mart parking lot about 7:30 p.m. on July 20, 2009, three Niles city police officers (two undercover) were waiting for them. After Devine and the woman went inside the store and returned five minutes later with no shopping bags in their hands, they got into the SUV. Police made a traffic stop on the vehicle and asked, in separate interviews, why the three were at the Wal-Mart, according to police. "All three gave conflicting information as to why they were there," said court records. Police asked the woman driver and Devine if they could search the vehicle and they said yes, but they added that the vehicle didn't belong to them. In a twist of irony, a police dog with a Niles officer discovered marijuana in the back of Devine's vehicle. Police found 10 1-pound bags of marijuana in a camouflage bag. When the three were arrested both Devine and his male friend blamed the other for why they had marijuana in the SUV, court records revealed. Devine was sentenced on Oct. 19 after a plea agreement to two days in jail with credit for two days served. He also was placed on probation for 18 months with several conditions. He was convicted in October and placed on probation, but could face four years for violation of probation. According to the probation terms, Devine was prohibited from drinking and from being away from his Mishawaka house between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., according to Berrien County Drug Court records. Devine could break his curfew but his probation officer needed to be advised. Devine also had to undergo random alcohol and drug testing and his probation terms for alcohol was zero tolerance.

For this accident with Cpl Szuba, Devine faces five charges including: operating while intoxicated and causing the death of another person, two counts of operating with a controlled substance and causing death to another person, resisting law enforcement and a habitual substance offender. Devine's blood alcohol level was at .239 percent at time of the crash, nearly three times the legal limit. The legal limit is .08. Devine faces up to 31 years in prison. On 1/14/10 Devine was transferred from the hospital to the St. Joseph County jail. On 1/15/10, just after a few hours after the service started for Cpl. Szuba, Devine appeared in court for the first time in a wheelchair and was rolled in by deputies into a jail room to be arraigned before a judge via video conference.  A preliminary plea of not guilty was entered for Devine.  Devine’s next court date will be on 1/21/10 in front of St. Joseph Superior Court Judge Jane Woodward Miller and has a $100,000 bond.  A judge set Devine's trial date for May 10, 2010. On his plea deadline date of March 30, 2010 he pleaded guilty to seven felony counts. Count 1, causing a death - Operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated (alcohol) Count 2, causing a death - Operating a vehicle while under the influence of a Schedule 1 controlled substance (cocaine) Count 3, causing a death - Operating a vehicle while under the influence of a Schedule 2 controlled substance (Vicodin) Count 4, causing a death while resisting law enforcement ,Count 5, he pleaded guilty to being a habitual substance abuse offender (this allows the court to impose an additional sentence) Count 6, possession of cocaine Count 7,  possession of controlled substance (Vicodin) The plea agreement says Devine will spend at least 20 years but no more than 37 years in prison. Devine had a long record of drunk driving offenses. Because of that he was also charged with being a habitual controlled substance offender. It allows the court to impose an extra 3 to 8 years in prison. On May 14, 2010 Judge Jane Woodward Miller sentenced Shawn Devine to thirty one years in prison.

Also because of this tragedy causing the death of a police dog while driving drunk could not be prosecuted as a separate crime before this accident. In March of 2010, Ricky's Law was passed, making it a Class D felony to be an impaired driver who causes a police animal's death. In Indiana, it was already a Class D felony to "knowingly or intentionally" injure a law-enforcement animal and cause its death, but state law did not provide for a criminal charge when the animal's death is caused by impaired driving. The law now makes it possible for a Class D felony charge to be filed against impaired drivers who cause such an animal's death. A Class D felony conviction carries a potential sentence of six months to three years in prison. It also raises the penalty for drivers who cause the death of an officer while fleeing police from a Class B felony to a Class A felony. Those convicted of a Class A felony face prison sentences of 20 years to 50 years. This law will serve as a tribute and recognize the sacrifice and honor the memory of Officer Szuba, along with his trained K-9 partner. The Senate approved this by a vote of 36-14, and the House voted 67-28 in favor of it.

On 12/6/10 Cpl. James Szuba’s  wife testified at a hearing before St. Joseph Superior Court Judge David Chapleau and is seeking up to $5 million in damages in a wrongful death lawsuit filed against David Devine.

 

                      

Both Michael Simon Martyn and Aaron James Vale have been both charged in the incident that happened on New Years Day. Michael Simon Martyn, 38, a builder's laborer, has been charged with one count of manslaughter over the officer's death and magistrate Melanie Little remanded Mr Martyn in custody until January 13.  Aaron James Vale, 28, appeared in the Darwin Magistrates Court charged with assault on a police officer  and causing harm,  for assaulting Const Carr. He's accused of punching Const Carr as he tried to assist his unconscious friend. Magistrate Daynor Trigg refused bail for Vale and adjourned the matter until January 14. 2010.

On 1/14/10 Aaron James Vale, 28, appeared in the Darwin Magistrates Court and will have to live at his grandmother's  house and not drink alcohol or go to any licensed venues. Mr. Vale's mother Kerry Vale had to put down a $1,000 cash security for Mr. Vale's release. Vale pleaded guilty to an aggravated assault of Constable Kevin Carr and on June 1, 2010 Aaron James Vale was sentenced in Katherine Magistrates Court  to seven months in prison , but it was suspended on the 14 days he had already served. Vale's seven-month sentence was suspended on the conditions that he be under supervision for 12 months, and not drink alcohol or enter licensed premises for six months.

When Michael Simon Martyn appeared in the Darwin Magistrates Court court on 1/13/10 the court heard how he extensive criminal history spanning the NT, NSW and South Australia. Martyn's lawyer, Glen Dooley, told the court. it was possible a self-defence case would be raised. He told the court the incident had started when Martyn brushed past Sgt Meredith at Club 23. Mr Dooley said the security guards who removed Martyn from the scene gave statements claiming that Martyn shook their hands and apologised for his behaviour as he left the club to go home. He was later arrested by police. Constable Kevin Carr, who was celebrating New Year's Eve with Sgt Meredith, described Sgt Meredith as intoxicated but not "staggering drunk". Mr Dooley asked that his client be granted bail to reside with his young family in Adelaide.  Sgt O'Neill said SA police did not have the power to arrest Martyn if he breached the conditions of his bail agreement. He said granting Martyn bail to reside in NT would also pose problems, due to concerns he may try to interfere with witnesses. Previously convicted of multiple charges relating to assaulting police, aggravated assault and the deprivation of liberty, the court heard police in NSW describe Martyn as a "standover man" who intimidated witnesses. Magistrate Sue Oliver ordered a bail assessment report and adjourned the matter until January 19, 2010. On January 19, 2010 Martyn was granted bail on his birthday on the condition he did not associate with anyone on a list of hundreds of potential witnesses. He will have to report to police every day, is not allowed to buy or consume alcohol, is not allowed to leave the Darwin area, and has a curfew between 8pm and 6am. Martyn will appear before the court again on February 9, 2010. At his February 9, 2010 court appearance his restrictions were made less. Before he had to report to the police on a daily basis but now only has to report into police on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday and is allowed to go fishing. On May 11, 2010, Michael Simon Martyn's committal hearing started with fifty witnesses to be called. On June 16, 2011, Michael Simon Martyn. Was found guilty of manslaughter. A Supreme Court jury of 5 women and seven men returned a guilty verdict in two hours. On June 16, 2011, Michael Simon Martyn, 40, was found guilty of manslaughter. A Supreme Court jury of 5 women and seven men returned a guilty verdict in two hours. Martyn was  sentenced by Judge Peter Barr  July 20, 2011 to three years and eight months in jail, with a non-parole period of one year and 10 months, for the manslaughter of Sergeant Brett Meredith, 39.