Salineville police mourn loss of K-9
They say a dog is man's best friend.
But for officers, a canine can be much more – a companion, a crime-fighting tool and a valuable member of the force.
Salineville police are mourning the loss of Bella, a 6-year-old German shepherd who – along with her trainer Sergeant Matt Devlin – composed the department's first K-9 unit.
Bella died suddenly on Monday and a cause of death is not known.
As dual purpose police dog certified by the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy, Bella was trained in narcotics, evidence recover, tracking and criminal apprehension.
She had been with the department for seven months and had acquired about 30 drug arrests. Bella was also recongnized by the American Kennel Club and was given the Canine Good Citizen Award.
“It's a very sad time for us,” Police Chief Andy Straley said.
Huck, a one-year-old German shepherd was appointed to step up to fill Bella's position.
The department is making arrangements for a funeral service where they will retire Bella's badge.
