Toledo police k-9 unit dog killed - Aug 2015

Interesting.

http://www.toledoblade.com/Police-Fire/2015/08/12/Police-K-9-killed-along-with-suspect-after-chase.html

Late Wednesday night, police officers lined a path leading away from a vacant East Toledo house, hands on hearts, as Falco’s body was wheeled out and taken away with a police escort.

The small crowd on the scene remained hushed at the sight, some removing their hats or taking cell phone video.

"We just lost a police officer," Chief Kral said. "That dog is a police officer.

Toledo police dispatchers gave a ceremonial last call for the dog over police radio around 9:30 p.m.

Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson arrived at the scene several hours after the shooting to show support for officers there, she said. “This officer gave his life in service to our community,” she said.

The last Toledo Police officer to be killed in the line of duty was Detective Keith Dressel, a 13-year veteran of the department, who died Feb. 21, 2007.

The National Sheriff’s Association has written a protocol that departments should follow for burying a K-9. Honors for a dead K-9 should be comparable to those for their human counterparts, the association says.

The animal’s funeral may include an honor guard, pall bearers, and 21-gun salutes, the association said.

In 2014, a funeral procession in Pittsburgh for slain police dog Rocco included bagpipers and full police honors.

http://toledopolice.com

EOW = End of Watch

http://www.toledonewsnow.com/story/29773388/man-barricades-himself-inside-an-east-toledo-home-police-on-scene

my other tt comment:

I have no idea what the local media is doing, but it's obvious that Falco was important to the Toledo Police Department. I have no problem with the human Toledo police officers mourning and honoring "just a dog." The TPD is not requiring the rest of us to do the same. Change the dial or pick a different website if the media is annoying.

From the Toledo Police Department's Facebook page:

It is with a heavy heart that we report the passing of Toledo Police K-9 Falco. Falco was shot and killed trying to apprehend a suspect on August 12th, 2015.

Toledo News Now story

Police say it all started when officers spotted a stolen car near Woodville and Varland. After a short pursuit by police, the two men fled from the car. One was arrested immediately. The other barricaded himself inside an abandoned home on Earl Street.

Toledo Police and a SWAT team surrounded the home.

Police say the K-9, Officer Falco, was shot by the suspect after his handler sent him into the home. Hours later police were able to safely enter the home.

Falco and the suspect were then found dead in the home.

Another officer did return fire, but it is unknown if the officer killed the suspect or if it was self-inflicted.

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Maybe Toledo News Now spoke with Officer Gilkerson to gain insight from the perspective of the suspect who shot Falco.

• What was the suspect thinking right before he shot Falco?
• Mr. Gilkerson, you have experience with shooting ferocious, hard-charging, wild beasts, what say you?

Maybe the Toledo News Now ombudsman can explain why their story failed to mention Gilkerson's episode with Moses that occurred only about nine months ago.

Nov 4, 2014 Toledo Talk thread titled Woodville cop shoots dog for no reason?

"Not sure which is worse: WTOL for not doing due diligence, or Gilkerson for showing his face on TV as a lover of dogs."

It is amazing. I'm starting to have more sympathy for the dead suspect.