THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, February 5, 1997 TAG: 9702050461
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY CINDY CLAYTON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 80 lines
The barks and whimpers of police dogs straining against their leashes quieted just long enough Tuesday for police to pay tribute to Iron, the police dog shot to death last week by a robbery suspect he was chasing.
Hundreds of law enforcement officers, some of whom had traveled from Richmond, Roanoke, Chincoteague and North Carolina, gathered for a funeral service for the 6-year-old Belgian malinois.
During the service at the police K-9 Training Range near Norfolk International Airport, officials credited the dog with saving the life of his police officer partner, Jim Losee.
In doing so, Iron gave his life in the line of duty, officials said.
``These dogs work for love and praise,'' Lt. Wally Driskell, who heads the Norfolk Police K-9 Unit, said in eulogizing the dog.
``We're going to miss Iron; he was a good dog. If he was here with us today, we'd tell him, `Good dog.' ''
After eulogies by Driskell and Police Chief Melvin C. High, a Norfolk woman walked to the back of a Dodge Ram containing the dog's small beige casket and read a poem she had written about Iron. Hundreds of law enforcement officers flanked the vehicle as a woman played ``Amazing Grace'' on a bagpipe.
``Iron paid the most magnificent tribute that any living thing can pay. . . ,'' High said, ``and that is to give his life for another.
``When duty called that evening, they responded rapidly,'' High said, referring to the pair's quick response to a call for a home-invasion robbery last Thursday.
Losee and the dog chased the suspect, Oren Harrison, behind the Oakmont North Apartments near the 7200 block of Rosemont Drive. As the dog was about to pounce on him, Harrison turned and fired at the pair, striking the dog.
Police said that, even as he took the bullets, Iron kept running toward Harrison, a 20-year-old man wanted since 1994 for murder and other crimes in Miami. Losee returned fire and killed Harrison, who kept running for about 200 yards before collapsing. The dog also died at the scene.
``I am . . . honored that Iron was there to save the life of Officer Losee,'' High said.
Among those at the service were K-9 and other uniformed police officers, sheriff's deputies, state police, emergency service personnel and police officials and detectives in plain clothes. When the service was over, the officers climbed into their trucks and cruisers and formed a miles-long processional that traveled 15 miles to a pet cemetery in Virginia Beach.
Cars at major intersections were halted by police and people stood outside businesses along the route to watch as the line of vehicles made its way toward the Garden of the Pines Pet Cemetery on Salem Road.
After a prayer by Officer Joe Jackson, three shots rang out in salute. Losee fought back tears as ``Taps'' was played.
Iron was buried next to Lobo, a Norfolk police dog killed when he was hit by a car in 1983.
``It's just sad,'' said Losee's brother, Michael. ``I saw the dog when I was here last September. You take an instant liking to that dog.'' Michael Losee and his sister, Patty Losee Thomas, and her son, Nicholas, drove to Norfolk from Beacon, N.Y., for the burial.
After the graveside service, officers milled around and talked about their experiences handling police dogs.
``After this happened, I went and sat with my dog in the kennel for two hours,'' said Todd Godwin of the Accomack County Sheriff's Department.
Virginia Beach Officer W.J. Cowan said the partnership between an officer and a dog is special kind of bond.
``The dog lives with you - he becomes part of the family.''
The dogs, he said, are trained to protect their partners, just like fellow officers.
Jim Squares of the New Kent County Sheriff's Department said he trusts his K-9 partner, Draco, as much as any other officer.
``My dog would give his life for me,'' he said. ``I know he would.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo by MIKE HEFFNER/The Virginian-Pilot
Norfolk K-9 Officer Jim Losee kisses the casket of his partner,
Iron, who died Thursday morning.
K-9 officers and their dogs came from across Virginia to honor Iron,
the Norfolk police dog killed in the line of duty.
KEYWORDS: SHOOTING NORFOLK POLICE DEPARTMENT K-9 CORPS
POLICE DOG FUNERAL