HONORS FOR K-9's

When a K-9 dies from any cause, but especially in the line-of-duty, there needs to be a memorial service for the animal, its handler, agency members,and the community the animal served. There needs to be an appropriate memorial service to honor the animal and for people to be able to express their memories and remembrances. People, as in any funeral service, want to give significance and meaning to the life and career of the deceased, in this case a canine.

However, honoring a deceased canine, even one killed in the line-of-duty, isn’t synonymous with having “honors” at a funeral for an officer killed in the line-of-duty. A traditional honors ceremony for an officer killed in the line-of-duty consists of the flag fold, Taps, and the rifle salute. A canine, regardless of how heroic its actions may have appeared, does not sacrifice its life to catch a suspect or even save its handlers life.Canines react from instinct and training.

They go into buildings and chase suspects based on instinct, training and commands. There is no decision making process. No evaluation of the dangers involved. No consideration of other options. No opportunity to question or refuse a command. A canine cannot sacrifice its life because there is no intent to knowingly or willingly place its self in harms way. Therefore, it would be inappropriate to have a “traditional honors ceremony” for a deceased canine.

However, it is appropriate to have a memorial service that honors the canine and have the service include having a police chaplain recite selected scriptural readings, prayers and poems and to have meaningful music and songs. It would be appropriate to have officers and friends give eulogies that exemplify the canine’s life and career. The “last radio call” would exemplify a sense of camaraderie. A bagpiper would be appropriate.

Having officers in uniform and in formation render a hand salute would be respectful. This is a time for pictures, plaques, awards, and commendations.A memorial service for a canine, like a funeral service for an officer, is for the living. A canine memorial service is an emotional event and everything should be done with dignity and respect. But this does not preclude the potential for the service to be personal, informal and relaxed.

When an agency conducts a traditional honors ceremony, flag fold, Taps, and rifle salute, for a canine it diminishes the significance of the ceremony for officers, especially those killed in the line-of-duty. There needs to be a clear distinction and separation between the animal and the master it serves.

I know many canines are referred to and even designated as “officer.” But his is a symbolic or honorary title. It is not synonymous with the title of a human officer who has sworn to accept the responsibilities of the position, protect the Constitution of the United States, adhere to the Law enforcement Code of Ethics, and demonstrate a personal dedication to serve the public.

I have read of canine memorial services where full honors were afforded the animal; motorcade, flag draped coffin, pall-bearers, flag fold, Taps, and rifle salute. Now when an officer is killed in the line-of-duty, how will the agency explain to the surviving spouse, children, parents and other officers that the “honors ceremony” is no different and has no more significance than one held for a canine. That an officer who may have”sacrificed” his life by intentionally placing himself in harms way to save another will be honored with the identical ceremonies given to an animal that responded according to its instinct and training.

We, especially funeral coordinators, need to keep things in perspective and be the voice of reason and objectivity during very emotionally turbulent times. When a canine dies, especially in the line-of-duty, there needs to bea memorial service and recognition of the animal’s contributions to the agency and the lives of its handler, the agency, and the community. But we need to remember that it is an animal and even though much can be done there are limits that should not infringe on the ceremonies we reserve for the dedication and self sacrifice and heroics of human officers.

John Cooley

PoliceFunerals.com