FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 29, 2005
Contact: Barbara LoMoriello, Legislative Aide -- #(631) 854-4500

Hail to the Chief
Cooper Legislation Saves Heroic Canine from the Auction Block

At yesterday’s General Meeting of the Suffolk County Legislature in Riverhead, lawmakers unanimously agreed to support a measure championed by Legislator Jon Cooper (D-Huntington) that will save a decorated veteran of the Suffolk County Police Department’s K-9 Unit from being offered up to the highest bidder on the auction block.

In making his case that the 6-1/2 year-old German shepherd should not be sold off as "surplus property" at a County auction like an old Crown Vic, Cooper hailed "Chief" for his service to Suffolk County.

In 2003, the dog used his sniffing skills to heroically track down and rescued a female Alzheimer's patient who had got lost in the woods in Medford. This feat earned him "cop of the month" citation from the Police Department in September of that year. "Chief has demonstrated that dogs are not only man’s best friend but woman’s too," said Cooper.

But as he began aging, Chief started becoming a lame duck. After he and his former partner, Officer Michael Cassidy, chased down a robbery suspect, Chief didn't even subdue the bad guy with his growlings but instead sat docile as Cassidy arrested the perp. Instead, Chief started displaying aggressive behavior towards cats and other dogs.

The one skill of Chief’s that didn’t wane with age was his talent at sniffing out bombs, a skill not in high demand in Suffolk County. When word began spreading that Chief might go on the County’s auction block, Cooper feared that Chief’s aggression might land him in Long Island’s animal baiting underground.

Even if Chief went legit with a private sector security company, Cooper feared that Chief’s age and aggressive tendencies might eventually lead to his euthanization. Luckily, passage of Cooper’s bill now ensures that Chief will stay part of the family he already lives with by making sure he is adopted by one of the officers in the K-9 Unit.

Now that Cooper’s law has authorized it, Sgt. John Durkin, commanding officer of the K-9 unit, could end up adopting Chief himself. "It’s nice to know Chief can continue to be part of the family, even if he can’t continue to be part of the force," says Durkin.

"Just because Chief can’t fulfill his role on the police department doesn’t mean he can’t fill a home with love and affection," Cooper added.