Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Special Operations Division
-Canine Unit
Clearwater Police Department
-Canine Unit
Curlew Hills Memory Gardens Pet Cemetery
1750 Curlew Road, Palm Harbor
What:
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and the Clearwater Police Department will honor fallen police canines during a memorial service.
When:
The memorial service will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 29, 2014.
Where:
The service will be held at the Curlew Hills Memory Gardens Pet Cemetery located at 1750 Curlew Road in Palm Harbor.
Why/How:
The Clearwater Police Department and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Units will be hosting the annual K-9 Memorial Service at Curlew Hills Memory Gardens Pet Cemetery in Palm Harbor.
During the service the agencies will be honoring retired canines that have passed away. At this year’s memorial, five service canines will be remembered:
K-9 Vader, Years of Service 2002-2009
Handler: Deputy Rick Tapia, Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Vader was a Patrol and Explosive Detection K-9
K-9 Jester, Years of Service 2004-2011
Handler: Deputy Steve Elrod, Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Jester was a Patrol and Narcotics Detection K-9
K-9 Deuce, Years of Service 2004-2010
Handler: Sergeant James Vickers, Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Deuce was a Patrol and Narcotics Detection K-9
K-9 Thor, Years of Service 1974-1977 & 1981-1983
Handler: Lt. Norman Romanosky, Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office (Retired)
Thor was a Patrol K-9
K-9 Dodge, Years of Service 2003-2007
Handler: Lt. Eric Gandy, Clearwater Police Department
Dodge was a Patrol K-9
The services will be attended by current and former K-9 handlers and their canine partners. The service will be open to the public.
The media is invited to cover.
For more information contact the Sheriff’s Public Information Office at (727) 582-6221.