Democracy for Vancouver

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1. A couple of points…

   1. Dakota was not a pet. He was a working Canine Police Officer who was killed in the line of duty. That is a distinct difference, and is extremely important to understand right up front.

   2. Dakota’s “owners” are the People of the City of Vancouver, via the Vancouver Police Department and we are absolutely right to be outraged at this killing. However, the bottom line here is that a dog was killed, not a human being, and one could argue successfully that Dakota saved a human officer’s life by giving up his own, and that was ultimately part of his job. That is a solemn acknowledgement of how serious this crime is against our whole community.

   3. Despite Dakota’s tragic death, we need to give thanks that one of our Police Officers was not forced to use deadly force to resolve this standoff either. Police Officers do not look forward to shooting anyone, and I would not wish to see one of our local cops be forced to make a decision he will regret for the rest of his life, no matter how right he was in the eyes of the Law to pull the trigger.

   Once again, we have proof positive of the professionalism and restraint of our local Police. We hear all too often about when they are forced to make the ultimate decison to protect us, and far too little when they successfully resolve intesnely serious and deadly situations like this one without further loss of human life.

   I hope there is a massive turnout for the memorial Service for Dakota, as is befitting any Police Officer who gives their life defending their Community.

   We need to also be aware that there is now a significant hole in the ranks of VPD, and we as a Community will need to be looking at ways to find and pay for Dakota’s relief as soon as possible. It’s impossible to replace Dakota, considering he was on the job here in Vancouver for 7 years and has made such an impact on so many people.

   Longterm, we need to make sure that another canine Police Officer is found to fill the vacancy we have at VPD, and we need to be aware that it will not come inexpensively, nor will it happen quickly. But the cost is insignificant compared to the value of canine Police Officers like Dakota to the whole community.

   [Reply]

   1. Above comment written by Chief Wahoo on October 24th, 2007 at 10:38 am (replies, if any, are attributed separately above).

2. Chief Wahoo,

   Thanks for your thoughtful comments.

   [Reply]

   2. Above comment written by bushtool on October 24th, 2007 at 10:45 am (replies, if any, are attributed separately above).

3. Citizen Involvement - Dakota Memorial Fund

   Citizen Involvement - Dakota Memorial Fund

   On October 23, 2007 Vancouver Police K9 Dakota was killed while searching for an armed suspect during a SWAT mission. The Vancouver Police Department has set up a memorial fund for anyone wanting to make a donation toward the purchase of a new Vancouver Police K9.

   Details for donating to the ‘Dakota Memorial Fund’ include:

   * Donations of cash or checks (checks must be made payable to ‘Dakota Memorial Fund’) can be dropped off in person at the Bank of Clark County branch at 1400 Washington Street in Vancouver.

   * Donations can be mailed to the Bank of Clark County (attn: ‘Dakota Memorial Fund’ on outside of envelope and on check), PO Box 61725, Vancouver, WA 98666-1725.

   * Donation envelopes that can be mailed to the Bank of Clark County are available at any Vancouver Police precinct during regular office hours (M-F, 8am-5pm)
   o East- 520 SE 155th Avenue
   o West- 2800 NE Stapleton Rd.
   o Headquarters-605 E Evergreen Blvd

   The Vancouver Police Department cannot accept donations directly. All donations must be directed to the ‘Dakota Memorial Fund’ established at the Bank of Clark County. All money collected for this fund will go toward the purchase and training of a Vancouver Police K9. Any additional funding that exceeds those costs will be used exclusively for the Vancouver Police Department K9 unit.

   At this time there are no finalized plans for a memorial ceremony for Dakota. When details on a ceremony are completed the Vancouver Police Department will send out a media release and post information this web page. Thank you for your support of the Vancouver Police Department.

   [Reply]

   3. Above comment written by Chief Wahoo on October 24th, 2007 at 6:14 pm (replies, if any, are attributed separately above).

4. http://www.cityofvancouver.us/police.asp?policeID=31529&policeSubID=46039

   [Reply]

   4. Above comment written by Chief Wahoo on October 24th, 2007 at 6:15 pm (replies, if any, are attributed separately above).

5. Chief is right about one thing.
   Reading the events leading up to this guy’s capture, it’s amazing that he didn’t get drilled instead of being alive and in custody.
   He was on record as wanting to shoot policemen and he demonstrated that by killing the first thing that came into contact with him.
   It’s a testimony to the training and hard work of the Vancouver Police department and to how police dogs put their lives on the line.
   If it would’ve been in Portland, would that guy still be alive? I doubt it.
   Listening to the testimony of the shooter of Faud Kaady, I am struck by the inhumanity of some peace officers. He shot the wounded and out of his mind burn victim because he didn’t want him ‘to get on him’.
   Maybe Portland ought to look at how Vancouver handles deranged criminals.

   [Reply]

   5. Above comment written by Petar "Crni" Poparov on October 25th, 2007 at 8:00 am (replies, if any, are attributed separately above).

6. Cried when I read this today:

   Vancouver police Sgt. Joe Graaff, a supervisor of the K-9 program, had to pause and fight back tears as he described Dakota’s and Evans’ service together.

   Graaff laid out the many hours of training required to be a tracking dog team, and more training to sniff out illegal drugs.

   And it took still more training to be part of the Southwest Washington Regional SWAT Team, which is sent to the most dangerous calls.

   But for all that, officers said, Dakota loved what he did for Evans.

   “A dog is one of the few creatures on Earth who love you more than you love yourself,” Cook said.

   And Evans, his voice breaking, told the handlers that, regardless how much they love their police dogs, the animals’ job is to save human lives.

   “When the situation is appropriate, don’t hesitate to send your dog,” Evans said.

   Officers gave several examples of Dakota’s courage and devotion to his job:

   - Keeping his jaws clamped on a suspect as they fell through a ceiling, a drop of about 10 feet.

   - Finding a suspect in an area that officers had already combed.

   - Being sent into an upstairs apartment to locate a suicidal man with a shotgun, a perilous job that ended well.

   With a career like that, it was only natural that Evans accepted many honors on behalf of himself and his partner.

   Besides an outpouring of community donations, the off-leash area of Pacific Community Park will be named in Dakota’s honor, said a representative of Dog Owners Group for Park Access in Washington, called DOGPAW.

   Dakota also is getting a medal of valor, and his name will be inscribed on a K-9 memorial at the Law Enforcement Academy in Burien, said an official with the Washington State Police Canine Association.

   There’s a purple heart from the Vancouver Police Department. A painting of Dakota was presented to Evans at the remembrance, and another woman plans to paint a second.

   Near the end of the remembrance, as audience members wiped away tears, Evans gave Dakota a final tribute:

   “Thank you for being a warrior and dying as a hero,” Evans said. “Dakota, you were a good boy.”

   And according to tradition, a 911 dispatcher’s voice gave Evans’ police call sign, two-Henry-seven, and said, “Dakota is now 10-7,” meaning “out of service.”

   [Reply]

   6. Above comment written by bushtool on November 6th, 2007 at 12:34 pm (replies, if any, are attributed separately above).