Canton Rep: Video of #RIPJethro Funeral; Trip to Houston Planned

News website CantonRep.Com has published a news story with video of K9 Jethro’s funeral that can be found HERE.

Thanks to a generous donation by United Airlines, K9 Jethro’s partner, Office Ryan Davis will be flying for free to Houston on Sunday, January 24th. Once arriving in Houston, Officer Davis will have an opportunity to select a new partner from one of K9s4COPs’ vendors.

Canton Police Officer Ryan Davis holds a fallen officer medal given to him for his K-9 partner, Jethro during a memorial service last week at Canton Memorial Civic Center. Photo Curtesy of CantonRep.com/ Julie Vennitti
Canton Police Officer Ryan Davis holds a fallen officer medal given to him for his K-9 partner, Jethro during a memorial service last week at Canton Memorial Civic Center. Photo Curtesy of CantonRep.com/ Julie Vennitti

K9s4COPs to Grant K9 in Memory of K9 Jethro

K9 Jethro
Canton Police Officer Ryan Davis and his partner K9 Jethro (From Facebook)

January 10th was a somber day at the K9s4COPs office, as news from social media informed us that K9 Jethro of the Canton Police Department passed away after suffering gunshot wounds to the face, shoulder, and neck while attending to a burglary.

K9s4COPs has made contact with the Canton Police Department and will be granting a K9 to the department in memory of Jethro’s.

For more information on Jethro and K9s4COPs click HERE [Warning: the news article linked contains some slightly graphic imagery]

K9s4COPs on KPRC Channel 2

K9s4COPs was on KPRC Channel 2 with the buzz on the K$9Challenge.

During the month of December, K9s4COPs is trying to raise the money place two K9s, one in a school and one on the streets, into our community. To do this, we are asking our supporters to donate $9 to our cause!

All it takes is 2,000 fans participating in the challenge to make our streets, community, and schools safer. Do your part today, the link to donate is below.

Screen Shot 2015-12-28 at 1.13.14 PMTo watch the full video story, click HERE

To donate to the K$9Challenge, click HERE

K9s4COPs Gifts K9 to French National Police

From Left to Right: French Ambassador Gerard Araud, French Police and Homeland Security Attaché Pierre-Eduardo Colliex, K9s4COPs Founder Kristi Schiller, US Airmen Spencer Stone, Harris County Sheriff's Deputy Ted Dahlin, and K9s4COPs Ambassadors Madison Sperry and K9 Quelle
From Left to Right: French Ambassador Gerard Araud, French Police and Homeland Security Attaché Pierre-Eduardo Colliex, K9s4COPs Founder Kristi Schiller, US Airmen Spencer Stone, Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy Ted Dahlin, and K9s4COPs Ambassadors Madison Sperry and K9 Quelle

During an event at the French Embassy in Washington, D.C., K9s4COPs announced it’s first international donation, a K9 named Liberté to the French National Police.

The gift was made in the wake of the loss of K9 Diesel. K9 Diesel lost his life during a RAID on a terrorist home in France. The full press release can be found HERE

 

K9s4COPs Receives FBI Award

 

 

Kristi FBI

K9s4COPs visited the Houston Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to recieve the 2015 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award. Every year, FBI field offices select a community partner to receive the prestigious award.

The special award, presented on behalf of the director of the FBI, was formally created in 1990 as a way to honor individuals and organizations for their efforts in combating crime, terrorism, drugs, and violence in the United States.

The full article can be found HERE

The official FBI press release can be found HERE

 

K9s4COPs grants K9 to Austin County Sheriff’s Office, Texas

K9s4COPs grants Austin County Sheriff’s Office with their only police K9, Jack, a single purpose narcotics detection dog.

JACK

K9 Jack with Austin County Sheriff’s Office, granted by K9s4COPs.

In 2014, K9s4COPs partnered up with AMK9 Academy in Alabama, to place returning “Hero Dogs” from Afghanistan into law enforcement agencies across the country.

Austin County Sheriff’s Office applied for K9s4COPs’ grant and received the exciting news that their application had been accepted in December 2014. In January, Deputy John Fullen headed to AMK9 Academy for six weeks to select and train with his new partner. After working with three other dogs, Fullen selected K9 Jack and the two graduated from training on February 6, 2015.

K9 Jack has since “hit the streets” of Austin County with his handler, patrolling over 20 miles of highway and has already gone on four deployments in his first two weeks.

“Jack has come in at a time when we have not had a canine designated for Austin County. There is a strong need for a narcotics canine and he is definitely fulfilling that need and service that we have been without for about two years. Everyday that we have been on duty, Jack has been called out. Having him just gives us that extra tool to catch any money or drugs going up and down our highway and community.” –Deputy John Fullen

K9s4COPs is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that grants K9s to law enforcement agencies and schools in need. In 4 years, the organization has granted 82 K9s to 50 agencies and 5 schools in 17 states. Each K9 costs between $10,000-$15,000, depending on their purpose. The grant provided by K9s4COPs pays for the cost of the K9, as well as the training for the officer and his K9 partner. To learn more about K9s4COPs or to donate, please visit www.K9s4COPs.org.

JACK-&-JOHN

 

Deputy John Fullen and K9 Jack with Austin County Sheriff’s Office and Kristi Schiller, Founder of K9s4COPs on February 23, 2015 at the Austin County Courthouse.

Campaigning for K9s: From Pups to Cops

BY JANET SHAMLIAN

Kristi Schiller says the story stopped her cold.

Watching a news broadcast about a grief-stricken Houston-area deputy who lost his K9 partner during a struggle with a suspect, the reporter mentioned there wasn’t enough money to give the officer a replacement pup. A self-described lover of both dogs and law enforcement, Schiller dug into her own pocket to pay for a new K9 partner for the deputy. That was four years and sixty dogs ago.

Ruff Times: Woman Donates K9s to Cops

 

Police K9’s do important work, no one disputes that, but many police and sheriff’s departments are cash crunched and have been forced to cut K9s from the budget. The highly trained dogs can cost upwards of $15,000, just for the initial purchase. Schiller saw a need and vowed to fill it. She started K9s4COPS, a non-profit organization that buys and trains the dogs and then gives them away to law enforcement officers. Her first fundraiser was in her backyard. She began knocking on corporate doors all over Texas, asking for donations.

Hyro, Houston K-9 Unit


“Kristi Schiller is not a gal you say no to,” says a friend who became a supporter.

Any law enforcement agency can apply and Schiller has enlisted a handful of deputies and police officers who review the applications once a quarter and make recommendations. Those who receive good news travel to Houston to choose and train with their K9 partner before returning home as a team. Schiller’s dogs are now fighting crime in 17 states.

Pasadena, Texas Police Office Mark Brinker received his K9 partner, Austin, in January.

“It would be a whole different show without him,” Brinker says.

Schiller deflects the credit, “It’s amazing what they’ve done with what little I’ve given them.”

Instead, she wants to tell you about her next challenge, giving dogs to schools. The mom of a young daughter, Schiller has launched K9s4KIDS and has given away six so far to promote what she calls a safe learning environment.

Kristi Schiller with her King German Shepherd


Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/feature/making-a-difference/campaigning-k9s-pups-cops-n175526