It must be a hard thing, for a handler to make the decision Ape's partner had to. Law enforcement officials did not know where in the building the suspect was; apparently they tried to use a robot with a camera first, but there were mobility issues. Sending a dog against an armed suspect is not a fair fight, but I cannot believe that the intent was to risk the dog instead of a human. It a horrible situation, and Ape paid for it, in addition to the others the man had opened fire on the day before. Unfortunately, nobody seems to know why the suspect did what he did.
(not an image of Ape, as I don't own one, but a GSD from Wikimedia commons)
I heard this on the news the other day, and I was just crushed. I can't even imagine how devestated his handler and his family, and the whole law enforcement community is right now.
ReplyDeleteI will be thinkin' of everyone today.
Kisses,
Ruby
Thanks Ruby. It was such a sad and horrible state of affairs.
DeleteEveryone who enters law enforcement is facing risk. I know that dogs don't have a choice in quite the same way. But they're chosen for the work because they show a proclivity for the work.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry for the officer who lost his partner.
Everything I think I know about working dogs includes the fact that the dogs LOVE to work, and so Ape was doing what he loved. I'm sorry for the handler as well :(
DeleteApe died in the line of duty, protecting to serve. Godspeed, Ape; prayers for all.
ReplyDeleteI hope they give him a proper hero's funeral. I don't really know how that works in the FBI, actually; it would be interesting to find out.
DeleteMy husband is on a few SAR lists and groups. Apparently, it's a topic of hot debate. Someone mentioned that cards and letters of condolence could be sent to the FBI director's office, who probably only met the handler once and likely never met Ape. Most feel that condolences should be sent to the field office they were stationed. I rather doubt that they'd have sent him in if they suspected the outcome that happened. Training and caring for a dog like that is very costly and not something to be discarded. As for the man who shot him, some things are just beyond our comprehension, and someone's reasons for going on a shooting rampage like that falls into that category for me. There's no excuse good enough.
ReplyDeleteI'd wondered, actually, if and wear letters could be sent. I do agree, sending them to the director's office doesn't seem to make a lot of sense. I mean, it does and it doesn't. He IS the FBI, as it were.
DeleteI definitely do not think that they sent the dog in to spare a human or anything like that; dogs DO cost, and handlers are far more attached to them than if they are "equipment". It was just a horrible and scary situation.
One of my coworkers said a couple of times "He just wanted to die, meaning the gunman. Well. When you've got guns, there are easier means of suicide than by cop. There is no excuse.
How sad. I'm sure his handler must be devastated. :-(
ReplyDelete