AR-News: (CA - US) Ceremony Planned for Slain Police Dog

[Snugglezzz at aol.com]

Ceremony Planned For Slain Police Dog
Salinas Dog Killled During Arrest Of Burglary Suspect 

POSTED: 2:55 pm PDT May 19, 2004
UPDATED: 8:10 am PDT May 20, 2004

SALINAS, Calif. -- The Salinas Police Department is planning a memorial ceremony for a police dog that was killed during an arrest of a suspected burglar Sunday night.

Authorities said that police went to a home on Glacier Drive just before midnight to arrest a 40-year-old Robert Cabrillo. Police said they issued several orders for Cabrillo to surrender, without any success.

Officer Bill Gaston then sent his K-9, Klief, to apprehend the suspect, and the man pulled out a large knife and stabbed the dog several times, according to authorities. Klief was taken to a veterinarian hospital and later died.

Officer Ian Parsons fired a Taser gun, and rookie Officer Adam Shaffer shot Cabrillo with his service revolver, according to authorities. The man was taken into custody and rushed to a local hospital, where he died.

Gaston and Klief worked as partners for four years. They were trained to work as a team, and K-9s are considered to be part of the police family, which is why an elaborate ceremony is being set up for next week.

Klief is the first Salinas police dog to lose his life in the line of duty.

Most of the ceremony cost is already built into the K-9 program, and the rest will be paid by the Salinas Police Officers Association, according to officials.

The three officers are on paid administrative leave.