K-9 Past Honorees
2024 CHALLENGE COIN
Challenge Coin will be available for sale at Registration and through the Ride Week.
2020 K9 Past Honorees
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K9 Chance Homestead Police Department, Florida End of Watch: Friday, June 5, 2020 |
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Bio & Incident Details
Age: 7
Tour: 5 Years
Gender: Male
Cause: Accidental
Incident Date: 7/13/2019
K9 Chance succumbed to complications of injuries he sustained on July 13th, 2019, while tracking a burglary suspect in the 3300 block of NE 7th Street.
During the incident, K9 Chance suffered a spine injury that dislocated several vertebrae. He underwent surgery for the injury and complications arose that necessitated to be humanely euthanized.
K9 Chance had served with the Homestead Police Department for five years.
2019 K9 Past Honorees
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K9 Biggie Florida Department of Corrections, Florida End of Watch: Tuesday, April 30, 2019 |
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Bio & Incident Details
Breed: Bloodhound
Age: 5
Tour: 5+ Years
Gender: Male
Cause: Heat exhaustion
Incident Date: 4/2/2019
K9 Biggie died after suffering from heat stroke while conducting a track during a training exercise at the South Florida Reception Center in Doral, Florida.
He was rushed to a local veterinarian when he began showing signs of distress. He was unable to recover as a result of the heat exhaustion and passed away later in the day.
K9 Biggie had served with the South Florida Reception Center's K9 Team for over five years.
2018 K9 Past Honorees
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K9 Cigo Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office End of Watch: Monday, December 24, 2018 |
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Bio & Incident Details
Breed: Unknown
Age: 3
Tour: Not Available
Gender: Male
Cause: Gun Fire
Incident Date: 12/24/2018
K9 Cigo was shot and killed while attempting an apprehension of an attempted-murder suspect at the Wellington Green Mall at 10300 Forest Hill Avenue.
Investigators received information that two Latin King gang members who were wanted for attempted murder were meeting someone at the mall. The agency's tactical team deployed to the area and waited for the two suspects to exit the mall into the parking lot.
As the team attempted to an apprehension one of the suspect's opened fire with a .45 caliber handgun, killing K9 Cigo. Deputies returned fire and wounded the suspect. The second suspect was taken into custody without incident.
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K9 Fang Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, Florida End of Watch: Sunday, September 30, 2018 |
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Bio & Incident Details
Breed: German Shepherd
Age: 3
Tour: Not Available
Gender: Male
Cause: Gun Fire
Incident Date: 9/30/2018
K9 Fang was shot and killed while attempting to apprehend an armed carjacking suspect near I-10 and Commerce Center Parkway.
The subject had stolen the vehicle at gunpoint approximately one hour earlier. The vehicle was located and turned off remotely as it traveled on I-10 and the driver fled into the nearby woods. K9 Fang was released to apprehend the suspect but was shot and killed. The subject was apprehended by a second canine and his handler moments later.
K9 Fang served as a patrol canine and explosives detection canine.
2017 K9 Past Honorees
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K9 Freckles Florida Department of Corrections, Florida End of Watch: Wednesday, May 10, 2017 |
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Bio & Incident Details
Breed: Beagle
Age: 11
Tour: Not Available
Gender: F
Cause: Heat exhaustion
Incident Date: 5/10/2017
K9 Freckles died after suffering heat exhaustion while tracking a wanted fugitive as part of a multi-day manhunt in the Laurel Hill area of Okaloosa County.
The suspect had lead officers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission on a pursuit before abandoning the stolen truck he was driving and fleeing on foot. A handgun was found in the truck following the pursuit. It is believed the man then committed several burglaries and vehicle larcenies in the area over several days.
Freckles had served with the Florida Department of Corrections for 11 years at the Okaloosa Correctional Institution.
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K9 Diesel Sebastian Police Department, Florida End of Watch: Friday, April 28, 2017 |
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Bio & Incident Details
Breed: German Shepard
Age: Not Available
Tour: Not Available
Gender: M
Cause: Heat exhaustion
Incident Date: 4/28/2017
K9 Diesel died after being accidentally left in his handler's patrol car at the Brevard County Courthouse in Melbourne, Florida.
Diesel was discovered in the back of the SUV at approximately 7:30 pm.
2016 K9 Past Honorees
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K9 Forest Volusia County Sheriff's Office, Florida End of Watch: Tuesday, November 22, 2016 |
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Bio & Incident Details
Breed: German Shepard
Age: 2
Tour: 1 Year
Gender: M
Cause: Gunfire
Incident Date: 11/22/2016
Weapon: Handgun
Suspect: In Custody
K9 Forest was shot and killed while attempting an apprehension of a vagrant fugitive near Vann Park in Deltona, Florida.
Deputies were in the area searching for a wanted fugitive after receiving a tip that he was staying at a home there. While on scene a dirt bike drove by their location recklessly several times. As the deputies spoke to occupants of the home they heard a subject jumping fences nearby and observed the dirt bike abandoned.
The subject was located by a helicopter crew running into a nearby wooded area. A perimeter was established and K9 Forest was deployed into the wooded area to located the subject. The man opened fire on Forest and deputies as Forest attempted an apprehension. Forest was struck by the gunfire and then transported to Deltona Animal Hospital where he died from the wound.
The subject was captured the following day after a nearly 20-hour stand-off with officers.
K9 Forest had served with the Volusia County Sheriff's Office for one year.
2015 K9 Past Honorees
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K-9 Hector Hialeah Police Department, Florida End of Watch: Wednesday, May 27, 2015 |
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Bio & Incident Details
Breed: Belgian Malinois
Gender: M
Cause: Heat exhaustion
Incident Date: 5/27/2015
K9 Hector and K9 Jimmy died of heat exhaustion after accidentally being left in their handler's vehicle following his shift and a callout to assist a neighboring agency.
Their handler had completed his midnight shift when the other agency requested Jimmy to conduct a track of a critically missing person. Following the search the handler returned home. Approximately nine hour later he discovered that Hector and Jimmy had been left in the back of the department vehicle and were both deceased.
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K-9 Jimmy Hialeah Police Department, Florida End of Watch: Wednesday, May 27, 2015 |
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Bio & Incident Details
Breed: Bloodhound
Gender: M
Cause: Heat exhaustion
Incident Date: 5/27/2015
K9 Hector and K9 Jimmy died of heat exhaustion after accidentally being left in their handler's vehicle following his shift and a callout to assist a neighboring agency.
Their handler had completed his midnight shift when the other agency requested Jimmy to conduct a track of a critically missing person. Following the search the handler returned home. Approximately nine hour later he discovered that Hector and Jimmy had been left in the back of the department vehicle and were both deceased.
2014 K9 Past Honorees
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K9 Baron St. Johns County Sheriff's Office, Florida End of Watch: Tuesday, October 7, 2014 |
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Bio & Incident Details
Breed: German Shepherd
Age: 2
Gender: M
Cause: Drowned
Incident Date: 10/7/2014
Weapon: Person
Suspect: In custody
K9 Baron drowned while apprehending a suspect wanted for felony narcotics distribution.
The subject had fled on foot after deputies responded to a disturbance at a home on Twin Aspen Circle. K9 Baron and his handler were tracking the man when they came upon a fence. His handler lifted him over the fence, and as the handler went over the fence she heard K9 Baron engage the suspect. She located Baron a short time later in a body of water. It is believed that the man intentionally drowned Baron during the Baron's apprehension.
The subject continued to flee but turned himself in the following day.
K9 Baron had served with the St. John's County Sheriff's Office for 1-1/2 years and conducted tracking and apprehension missions.
2013 K9 Past Honorees
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K9 Max Miami Gardens Police Department, Florida End of Watch: Friday, September 13, 2013 |
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Bio & Incident Details
Breed: Unknown
Age: 5
Gender: M
Cause: Accidental
Incident Date: 9/12/2013
K9 Max died following complications during surgery for a duty related injury the previous night.
K9 Max and his handler had responded to a burglary in progress on NW 176th Terrace in which multiple suspects were believed to be inside of a residence. Max's handler deployed him through a jalousie window that appeared to provide access into the home. One of the glass panels in the window came loose and severely lacerated one of Max's ears.
He was transported to Hollywood Animal Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery to repair the damage. During the surgery he suffered a medical emergency and died.
K9 Max had served as a certified apprehension and explosive ordinance detection canine for four years.
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K9 Gus Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida End of Watch: Thursday, August 1, 2013 |
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Bio & Incident Details
Breed: Labrador Retriever
Gender: M
Cause: Duty related illness
Incident Date: 8/1/2013
K9 Gus died after inhaling a foreign object into his lung while performing a track for a missing woman in Hillsborough River State Park.
He was deployed after several previous searches failed to locate the missing woman. Gus' track was successful and the woman's body was in the park. However, K9 Gus inhaled an object into his lung that lead to his death a short time later.
K9 Gus had served with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for four years.
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K9 Koda Leon County Sheriff's Office, Florida End of Watch: Thursday, January 31, 2013 |
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Bio & Incident Details
Breed: German Shepherd
Age: 6
Gender: M
Cause: Gunfire
Incident Date: 1/31/2013
Weapon: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect: Shot and wounded
K9 Koda was shot and killed as he attempted to take down a subject following a vehicle pursuit.
Deputies had pursued a vehicle several blocks until the vehicle crashed into a ditch near the intersection of Seminole Drive and South Magnolia Drive. The subject continued to flee on foot and then opened fire on K9 Koda and deputies. Two deputies returned fire and wounded the subject before taking him into custody.
It was later determined that the subject was wanted on warrants for attempted first degree murder, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and discharging a firearm from a vehicle.
