Tag Archives: Jethro

Memorial Marker for Jethro

Jethro memThose of you who’ve been following this blog for awhile will remember Jethro, a Canton police department K-9 officer who was killed in the line of duty. His memorial stone has now been placed at the cemetery where all local K-9 officers are laid to rest. Very handsome sculpture of a very handsome dog. (The PK9A logo is for Police K-9 Association, which is instrumental in training and supporting K-9 Officers and their handlers in Ohio.)

Incidentally, I ran into Officer Ryan Davis the other day with his new K-9 partner, Tuko. Unfortunately, Tuko isn’t nearly as social as Jethro was, so I was unable to play with him, but he’s doing a great job learning his new duties.

And, every dog on the force is now outfitted in a bullet-proof, stab-resistant vest, courtesy of the funds raised after Jethro’s death.

Until next time,
Good day, and good dog!

Monument for Jethro and other Stark County K9s

My buddy, Jethro, taken less than a week before he was killed in the line of duty.
My buddy, Jethro, taken less than a week before he was killed in the line of duty.

The Canton Repository is reporting on a new memorial that has been erected in front of the Stark County Courthouse to honor K9s killed in action. Jethro, the dog who died after being shot by a grocery store burglar in January, 2016, is one of two dogs whose names are “engraved and gilded in 23-karat gold leaf on a jet-black tablet with a gray granite base,” said Philip Lago, the monument designer.

Luko is the second dog whose name is already inscribed on the monument. He was hit by a car close to the same spot where Jethro was killed, back in February, 1998. Continue reading Monument for Jethro and other Stark County K9s

Canton PD K-9 Tuko Completing His Training This Week

Fox 8 News in Cleveland is reporting that Canton’s newest K-9 will be ready to roll starting in May. You might recall that Tuko is the dog chosen as the successor to Jethro after the latter was killed in the line of duty. Tuko will graduate from his training this week and start serving and protecting in early May.

Congrats to Tuko and Officer Ryan Davis.

Until next time,
Good day, and good dog!

Jethro’s Alleged Killer Indicted, Faces Up To 57 Year Sentence

Jethro, Jan 7 2016.  Photo:  Beth Philley
Jethro, Jan 7 2016. Photo: Beth Philley
The Repository is reporting that Kelontre Barefield, age 22, was indicted this week on charges including “aggravated robbery, two counts of felonious assault, assaulting a police dog, harassing a police dog and breaking and entering.” Several of the counts include firearms specifications, bringing his total potential prison sentence to 57 years. Continue reading Jethro’s Alleged Killer Indicted, Faces Up To 57 Year Sentence

Introducing the Newest Canton PD K-9, Tuko

K9 Tuko K9 for Cops in Houston is announcing tonight that Officer Ryan Davis of the Canton Police Department has been matched with a new partner following the murder of his beloved Jethro.

A German Shepherd named Tuko will fly back to Canton Tuesday and begin work soon. He is trained for narcotics detection and general patrol work.

The dog was donated by K9s for Cops, and the flights were donated by United Airlines. Kudos to both for stepping up!

Until next time,
Good day, and good dog!

One more…I couldn’t resist

From Pet Portrait Artist BZ Tat
From Pet Portrait Artist BZ Tat

I just found this on Facebook. Artist BZTat, who has volunteered to paint a portrait of Jethro for the Davis family, sat with me at the funeral today. She told me she had a great photo of a handler canoodling with his dog in the parking lot. She apparently took it home and “art-i-fied” it. Beautiful!

Her caption: My artistic rendering of a Parma PD officer and his K-9 partner Tyrone in a poignant moment of bonding at the memorial for fallen K-9 officer Jethro. The human animal bond is so strong and intense between man and beast in the K-9 corps. Canton loves it’s canine heroes and their human handlers. We are so thankful for both. We are also thankful for the heroes that patrol cities beyond Canton who came to pay respects today. Thank you all for your service. #RIPJethro #canineheroes #herodog #jethro #bztatart