2007
City of Norfolk
K-9 handler, Officer Brian S. Kane and his K-9, “Argo"
“Argo”, a 5-year old german shepherd, has provided priceless service to the citizens and visitors of Norfolk by performing such tasks as tracking, area searches, building searches, and officer protection. Collectively, Officer Kane and “Argo” have 21 felony arrests and 30 misdemeanors over the past 10 months that include robbery, malicious wounding, grand larceny, stolen auto, weapons charges, and assaults of a law enforcement officer. Without the use of this well-trained K-9, these illegal acts may have resulted in additional or continuing crimes.
Officer Kane and “Argo” have participated in numerous public K-9 demonstrations to inform and promote City of Norfolk and the police department’s K-9 unit. “Argo” is always popular with the children and he provides a common interest between the department and the citizens. As a result, this makes for a better working relationship between law enforcement and the community. Ultimately, with community involvement, the police department is more effective in preventing and deterring criminal activity.
An example of “Argo’s” most recent service to the community is in the following excerpt:
On July 3, 2007, Officer B.S. Kane was called upon to assist precinct units on a large disorderly crowd. Once on scene, Officer Kane monitored the incident an found everyone orderly. One person had been arrested and was secured in the back of a patrol unit and the onlookers were milling around. There were no problems, and then from across the street a male, later identified as the father of the arrested, came on scene. He refused to comply with the police officer’s orders to stop and attempted to get to his son. As officers converged on him, he began swinging and striking officers. The officers attempted to gain control of the man; however, the man, later identified as being a master in martial arts, set himself into a fighting posture. Officers deployed OC spray and attempted to gain control of the man. The man grabbed one officer in the groin area as he fell to the ground. Several baton strikes to the suspect didn’t appear to affect the 275 lb. man and two other officers were unable to gain control of the man. Officer Kane with K-9 “Argo” instructed officers to back away from the suspect to permit him to utilize his K-9. Officer Kane deployed “Argo” on-leash and the suspect was bit in the lower back. The man released the officer that he was holding and attempted to remove the dog from the bite by fighting the dog. Officer Kane ordered the suspect to stop fighting and resisting the dog. After approximately 30 seconds, the subject surrendered and Officer Kane removed K-9 “Argo” from the bite. He was charged with the assault on law enforcement officers. Officer Kane and “Argo” performed flawlessly. This is evident from the dog’s ability to remain on task while engaged in a physical encounter with the suspect. This dog team ended a situation that potentially could have resulted in serious injury to the officers or the use of deadly force. I commend Officer Kane and K-9 “Argo for a job well done.
“Argo” is one of eighteen patrol K-9 dogs assigned to the Norfolk Police Department. All of the dogs in the unit are excellent however; “Argo” has shined above the rest in 2007. Obviously, this is a tribute to Officer Kane’s sound decision-making in the use of the K-9 dog and his ability to train and maintain “Argo” to perform tasks that results in making our fine city safer.
As a Virginia Police Work Dog Association utility dog trainer and supervisor of the Norfolk Police Department’s K-9 Unit, I highly recommend Officer Brian S. Kane and K-9 “Argo” be considered for the German Shepherd Club’s “Top Service Dog Award”.
Submitted by:
Keith F. Callis, Sergeant
Norfolk Police Department, K-9 Unit