It is with great sadness that the Salem Police Department announces the death of our narcotics canine, "Euro."
Euro, a 9-year old Belgian Malinois, began his career with the Salem Police Department in February of 2004 when he was obtained from a kennel in Southern California. Euro passed his patrol dog standards testing in the spring of 2004 and began working on patrol with Officer Ryan Demmer. Officer Demmer and Euro had a number of successful deployments on patrol, with Euro demonstrating excellent physical agility and energy.
In the fall of 2004 Euro was tested at the Oregon Police Canine Association seminar and was found to have a strong aptitude for narcotics detection work. That testing coincided with Officer Adam Miller's search for a narcotics detection canine, and the two were quickly paired up and became a team.
Officer Miller and Euro were recognized as being one of the top five narcotics detections teams in the State, compiling an impressive 698 deployments and seizing over 5 pounds of methamphetamine, over 5 pounds of heroin, over 1 pound of cocaine, over 80 pounds of marijuana, 4225 oxycontin pills and $1,182,765 in cash.
Euro always made his presence known when he was a passenger in Officer Miller's vehicle and was famous for being a very vocal passenger. Unfortunately he encountered some health issues at the end of 2009 that could not be corrected, and our veterinarian recommended that he be euthanized for humanitarian reasons. Euro will be missed by not only the Salem Police Department, but also by Officer Miller and his family.
February 20th, 2010
K9 Devo, with the Umatilla Tribal Police Department, passed away. Handler Keith Byrd.
November 16th, 2009
To all,
It is with sadness I report the death yesterday of one of our canines, Lela an 8 yr old German shepherd. Lela and PPB Ofr. John Blair have worked together for the last two years as a valuable asset to our Division. Lela was a highly skilled and certified Explosive Canine Detection team member since 2006. She suffered from a particulary aggressive form of internal cancer that was only detected on Saturday, and it had progressed to a point that nothing could be done to save her; it was a extremely difficult decision to put her down, but it was the best decision. She had recently received a good bill of health at her last exam, so this cancer came on very fast.
As you know, the dogs and their handlers become very close and form a bond that goes beyond the work environment. It is particularly difficult for the young members of Ofr. Blair's family that will miss Lela as a pet and a member of the family rather than a work associate.
The Transit Division has two working EDCT with Sergeant Simms and Ofr. Wells. Our Division is regularly supplemented by other local EDCT teams from the Port of Portland and FPS. I anticipate no interruption of Transit EDCT service or response; in the near term we are formulating a plan to acquire another canine to begin work in Portland as soon as we can.
Please call or e-mail if you have any questions. Thank you
VINCENT L. JARMER
Commander, Portland Police Bureau
Transit Police Division
(503) 962-5835
July 4, 2009
We are sad to announce the death of K9 Jari today. He was found by Deputy Matt Rae in his kennel this morning acting lethargic and bloated. Matt rushed Jari to the vet who immediately took Jari into surgery to try and save him from torsion. Although the vet thought they got to it in time, Jari succumbed to cardiac arrest at the end of the surgery. Jari made his mark on all of us and he will be missed.
Criminal Division / K-9
Linn County Sheriff's Office
1115 SE Jackson St.
Albany, OR 97322
Officer Alex Fyfe's drug detection dog, Xwodin (pronounced "Zodin"), passed away some time last night in his kennel of what appears to be natural causes.Xwodin was 11 1/2 years old, and served the Portland Police Bureau for 10 years.Over his distinguished career, Xwodin assisted with the seizure of more than $2 million dollars in cash and more than $15 million dollars worth of illegal narcotics.
His was a valuable member of the Drugs and Vice Division and his service made our community safer.Please join me in extending condolences to Officer Fyfe on the loss of his partner and friend.
Police dog saluted after death for decade of drug busts
K9 cop - Xwodin, a German shepherd, and his handler, Officer Alex Fyfe, earn medals
Saturday, June 13, 2009
GILLIAN FREW
The Oregonian Staff
Not many successful partnerships begin with bite marks and bruises.
But for Officer Alex Fyfe and Xwodin, a talented German shepherd he trained to sniff out drugs, the ordeal led to a lasting bond and produced big breakthroughs for the Portland Police Bureau.
After 10 years of dedicated service, Xwodin (pronounced ZWO-dun) died last week of natural causes at age 11. Hundreds of e-mails expressing condolences poured in from officers across Oregon and southwest Washington, where Fyfe and Xwodin were deployed more than 2,000 times.
They helped with investigations for about 20 law enforcement agencies, responding to their last call a couple of days before Xwodin died.
On Wednesday, Xwodin was posthumously awarded a Distinguished Service Medal for his achievements, which Fyfe accepted along with his own at a police bureau awards ceremony. Police Chief Rosie Sizer acknowledged the partnership before a crowded auditorium at David Douglas Performing Arts Center.
Fyfe said about 20 other dog handlers who knew Xwodin surprised him at the ceremony.
"It's a celebration of how much Xwodin did for the community," said Sgt. Michael LeDuc of the Gresham Police Department's K9 narcotics unit. LeDuc assisted with Xwodin's training and called him "an extraordinary dope dog" whose skills served not only the Portland area but also Salem and Hood River.
"He was a difficult dog to work at first," LeDuc said. "We had to figure out how to take all of that energy and all of that ambition and focus it in the right direction."
Over the course of his career, Xwodin recovered about $15 million in concealed narcotics and $2 million in tainted cash. Fyfe said there were hundreds of times when cases could not have been solved without him -- quite a responsibility for the partnership during the four years when Xwodin was Portland's only drug dog.
"Asking one guy and one dog to be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to support the needs of a city this big was pretty exhausting," Fyfe said. "But it made us good fast."
Police dog saluted after death for decade of drug busts - Page 2
K9 cop - Xwodin, a German shepherd, and his handler, Officer Alex Fyfe, earn medals
Xwodin was trained to trace drugs such as heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana by scratching at the source of a smell. With drugs sometimes concealed inside sheet rock or even in powdered laundry detergent in suspects' homes, Xwodin's skills were often pivotal to solving the case, Fyfe said.
When Xwodin needed hip surgery in 2003, the bureau decided to add a second dog team for the first time, primarily based on the success of Fyfe and Xwodin.
Teaching Xwodin to be a good drug dog who was safe around people was tough, especially for a first-time handler like Fyfe. Xwodin started out biting him nearly every day during training exercises, often drawing blood or ripping through clothing.
"I wanted to quit every day for the first year," Fyfe said. "He challenged me more than I've ever been challenged by anything before."
The partners learned from each other. As Fyfe became more confident as a trainer, Xwodin's aggression abated, although his obsession for the hunt never did. When Xwodin accidentally ingested an overdose of meth during a search and almost died, Fyfe said, "That's when it hit me that I really do love this dog."
Fyfe started a family, and by the time his oldest son Ryan, now 4, was old enough to tease Xwodin, he trusted the dog to play nice. Xwodin lived at home with Fyfe and his wife, Christina, and was adored by their three children, who called him "Zo-Zo."
Fyfe is now a state certified dog trainer for the Oregon Police Canine Association and has led training workshops throughout the region. His next challenge will be finding a new partner, but he doubts any other dog could rival Xwodin's drive.
"You couldn't stop him," Fyfe said.
April 14, 2009
Officer Gary Knight & K9 Moose Umatilla PD
It is with sadness that I learned of the passing of K-9 Moose last night. We will honor Moose’s dedication and passion for catching the criminals by wearing our mourning bands effective immediately through April 27th. This time frame is consistent with honoring the passing of fellow officers of this department. Gary will be in to talk with us today and will advise you of specifics regarding any memorial as information becomes available. Please take time to share with Gary your thoughts and let him know how much we appreciated Moose’s service and how we are also mourning his loss.
Chief
It is with great sadness that I inform you that our retired police K9, Dane, passed away recently. Dane was retired from service this summer due to medical issues, and subsequently was diagnosed with lymphoma. Dane and his handler, Officer George Ortega, served the TSA K9 program, the Port and our surrounding communities faithfully and effectively for over 9 years. As a K9 team under the TSA National Explosive Detection Canine Program, Dane and George consistently met the highest certification standards and worked many high profile dignitary details, including Presidential and Vice Presidential visits. They also presented K9 demonstrations to countless school, youth and community groups as a very positive outreach for the police department and the Port.
Those of us who had the privilege of working with Dane know he was a bundle of energy with a very active nose, always ready to work and equally ready to accept a friendly pat on the head.
Chief Phil Klahn
Port of Port Police Department
Oregon Police Canine Association
PO Box 669, Oregon City, OR 97045
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