Pubdate: Wed, 22 May 2002 Source: Register-Herald, The (WV) Copyright: 2002 The Register-Herald Contact: http://www.register-herald.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1441 Author: Nerissa Young HINTON POLICE BID FAREWELL TO K-9 HINTON - Anyone who was speeding through the city from 4:15 to 4:45 p.m. Tuesday got away with it. At that time on a cold and rainy afternoon, the city's police force was gathered to say farewell to one of its own. DJanga, a 4-year-old black Dutch shepherd and one half of the city's K-9 unit, was laid to rest at a brief graveside service on a New River island that is also home to the city sewer plant. The dog was nearly a 9-month veteran of the police force and constant companion to Patrolman 1st Class Jason Brooks. The officer found his partner dead of unknown causes last Wednesday when he returned home from his second job as a security officer. "He was with me everywhere I went," Brooks said of the dog. About 6:15 a.m. last Wednesday, Brooks said, he let DJanga outside for a few minutes and refilled his water dish. When he left home, the dog was back in his basement kennel. There was no evidence of tampering to suggest anyone deliberately harmed the dog. Police Chief Tim Adkins said he is awaiting the results of an autopsy. "Right now, we don't know exactly the cause of death. Everything is open right now." Brooks said a veterinarian treated the dog with two injections for heartworms the week before his death, but assured him DJanga would fully recover. Adkins said, "It was a lot more than just a dog." During his service, DJanga helped officers seize more than a pound of marijuana and make two felony apprehensions. DJanga and Brooks were regular fixtures at the county's schools for demonstrations and drug searches. They visited the senior center and civic organizations. "The dog worked a 40-hour week or a 70-hour week, whatever was called on him to work," Adkins said. "This is a great loss to this community." Brooks said, "You form a bond with that dog. He would give his life for me. I don't know anybody who would do that." The two began training last Sept. 1 and started working their beat Oct. 26. Brooks is a two-year veteran of the force. City Councilman Bobby Wheeler, a retired police officer, said, "This dog, to his handler, is the same as another police officer ... It's like losing a fellow officer." He said the city will find and train another dog. Brooks said he is willing. Two dozen people gathered around a flag-draped coffin as the Rev. Ken Price from First United Methodist Church in Hinton conducted the service. "We are here to pay honor to a servant of the people of the city of Hinton." He mentioned times in the Bible when God used animals to serve humans: A raven carried bread to Elijah, the whale sent Jonah on his missionary journey to Ninevah and a lamb provided the Passover sacrifice for the Israelites. "We're going to sadly miss him," Price concluded. As the strains of "Taps" echoed across the island, two officers folded the flag for Wheeler to give Brooks. Adkins thanked the businesses and people who donated materials for the service, which was no cost to the city. Riverside Monument and Ronald Meadows Funeral Parlors donated the head stone, foot stone and flag. The Animal Control and Welfare Project provided a wreath of flowers. Wheeler paid for a bone-shaped flower arrangement. Students in the building trades class at Summers County High School made the casket. The stone was engraved, "He lived to protect and serve." - --- MAP posted-by: Ariel