Every day, police officers put their lives at risk in the line of duty. While seeking to fulfill their mission to protect and to serve the public, they can end up getting injured and even shot and killed in some situations. In addition to the human police officers that serve across the country, K9 units also help to keep our streets safe and apprehend any criminals they find.
Here is a story of one K9 officer named Titan, who almost gave it all in the line of duty.
An Early Morning Incident
When Elijah Johnson fled the scene of a traffic stop in St. Petersburg, Florida, he set in motion a series of events that would result in his own death and the shooting of two police officers. After Johnson abandoned his vehicle and fled, he first shot K-9 Titan, followed by Sergeant David Stang, both with the St. Petersburg Police Department.
An Inseparable Bond
Titan’s partner, police officer Greg Shone never left his side throughout the ordeal. Shone stayed by Titan’s side as he underwent surgery to treat his wound. Shone, for his part, was not injured.
According to Sandra Bentil, an information specialist with the St. Petersburg Police Department, “Our dogs spend all their time with their handlers. They not only train together, but they are certified together; if his partner is off for the day, we can’t give the dog to another person. So that allows them to build a very, very strong bond.”
A Faithful Partner
After the shooting, Shone rushed Titan to the hospital where he was prepared for the surgery to treat his bullet wound. Shone and Titan had been serving together for the past three years before the incident. In fact, the two were together night and day as K9 officers live with their partners.
“My goals of being in the unit are to first get through school with him,” Officer Shone said in a video from when they were first assigned to each other. After we make it through school I want to be a successful member of the unit on the street and I want to make sure that him and I both go home safe at the end of every shift.”
Titan is Recovering and Doing Well
And while Titan has the distinction of being the only K9 in his squad to ever take a bullet, it is not something either he or Shone want to repeat. While still on pain medication and antibiotics at the time, Titan was expected to make a full recovery.
Training a K9 Officer
Before a dog can be trained to become a K9 unit, his handler first receives the proper training at the police academy, plus spend at least one to two years patrolling the streets. Once the handler is ready, they are assigned a dog. For their part, K9 units must be able to pass a basic obedience class.
Popular police dog breeds include Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, and Doberman Pinschers, among other dog breeds. Once trained, the K9 unit and their handler live together until either the K9 or their handler retire, or become too injured to continue working in the line of duty.
What Their Duty Entails
The duties of a police dog can vary according to their abilities and the needs of the department. Most police dogs that you see every day are apprehension and attack dogs, trained to help locate and subdue suspects, which is what Titan was doing the night he was shot.
Other duties range from drug and explosive detection to search and rescue. Many dogs also serve dual purposes, taking on a combination of the responsibilities above.
Partners for Life
As has been mentioned previously, K9 units and their handlers are partners for life, living, training, and serving together. The following video details the mission of police officer Greg Shone and his K9 partner Titan.
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Source: Facebook/St. Petersburg Police Department
