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."
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