2010 - 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

 

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.  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.

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. His plea deadline date is March 30, 2010 and his record date is set for April 27, 2010.

 

                      

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.

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. His Next court appearance is February 19, 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.