thedrifter
03-11-06, 06:30 PM
Drug dog named for fallen soldier
The Steubenville Herald-Star
MARTINS FERRY - Training soon will begin for a rescue and drug dog donated to the Martins Ferry Police Department, and the animal has been named after a city officer killed in Iraq.
After learning of the August death of U.S. military sniper Nathan Rock, officials at the Northeast Ohio Dog Training Academy in Girard offered to provide the Martins Ferry Police Department with an animal and training for the department, Chief Barry Carpenter said Monday.
Carpenter said the dog and handler will begin training May 22 at the facility in Girard, and the package offered by the academy would typically cost about $10,000. The training is expected to be complete in late June or July. The dog already has been named Rock, as a tribute to the Martins Ferry officer who lost his life serving in Iraq.
Rock, 26, a 1997 graduate of Toronto High school, died Aug. 1 during hostile gunfire in Haditha, Iraq, while serving with the Regiment Combat Team 2, Second Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force.
Rock was the son of Timothy and Adriana Rock of Toronto and spent six years in the Marines after graduating from high school and joining the reserves.
Rock also was a part-time police officer with the Martins Ferry Police Department, a member of the St. Francis Catholic Church in Toronto and a graduate of the Jefferson Community College Police Academy.
Rock's body arrived in the Gem City Aug. 6 to a hero's welcome that included an escort from dozens of law enforcement officials from throughout Jefferson County. His Aug. 9 funeral at St. Francis Church in Toronto attracted hundreds of mourners, while his burial in Toronto Union Cemetery included full military honors. Carpenter said the dog's handlers at the academy were affected by the story of Nathan Rock's death.
"When they saw the story, it hit home, and they thought they would pay tribute to him," Carpenter said. "The dog will be named Rock. (Nathan Rock) was killed Aug. 1, and within a week we got an e-mail from the academy.
"The dog will live with the officer selected for the training," he added. "It's a dual-purpose dog, and he will be trained for narcotics and tracking."
Carpenter said the dog will be an asset to the Martins Ferry Police Department, which has had to request the use of drug dogs from the Belmont County Sheriff's Department and the Wheeling Police Department in past drug arrests. Carpenter said his department appreciates the help of neighboring departments, but the new drug dog will be kept busy in Martins Ferry.
"We have been using whatever dog is available," Carpenter said. "We have used dogs from Wheeling or wherever they are available for a sniff. Most departments are good about allowing that and getting it to you as soon as possible, and we were always thankful for that. This is actually the first dog we have had since the 1970s. We will use it. These guys hustle, and our intelligence is second to none when it comes to narcotics. The people in this community are tired of the dope."
Ellie
The Steubenville Herald-Star
MARTINS FERRY - Training soon will begin for a rescue and drug dog donated to the Martins Ferry Police Department, and the animal has been named after a city officer killed in Iraq.
After learning of the August death of U.S. military sniper Nathan Rock, officials at the Northeast Ohio Dog Training Academy in Girard offered to provide the Martins Ferry Police Department with an animal and training for the department, Chief Barry Carpenter said Monday.
Carpenter said the dog and handler will begin training May 22 at the facility in Girard, and the package offered by the academy would typically cost about $10,000. The training is expected to be complete in late June or July. The dog already has been named Rock, as a tribute to the Martins Ferry officer who lost his life serving in Iraq.
Rock, 26, a 1997 graduate of Toronto High school, died Aug. 1 during hostile gunfire in Haditha, Iraq, while serving with the Regiment Combat Team 2, Second Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force.
Rock was the son of Timothy and Adriana Rock of Toronto and spent six years in the Marines after graduating from high school and joining the reserves.
Rock also was a part-time police officer with the Martins Ferry Police Department, a member of the St. Francis Catholic Church in Toronto and a graduate of the Jefferson Community College Police Academy.
Rock's body arrived in the Gem City Aug. 6 to a hero's welcome that included an escort from dozens of law enforcement officials from throughout Jefferson County. His Aug. 9 funeral at St. Francis Church in Toronto attracted hundreds of mourners, while his burial in Toronto Union Cemetery included full military honors. Carpenter said the dog's handlers at the academy were affected by the story of Nathan Rock's death.
"When they saw the story, it hit home, and they thought they would pay tribute to him," Carpenter said. "The dog will be named Rock. (Nathan Rock) was killed Aug. 1, and within a week we got an e-mail from the academy.
"The dog will live with the officer selected for the training," he added. "It's a dual-purpose dog, and he will be trained for narcotics and tracking."
Carpenter said the dog will be an asset to the Martins Ferry Police Department, which has had to request the use of drug dogs from the Belmont County Sheriff's Department and the Wheeling Police Department in past drug arrests. Carpenter said his department appreciates the help of neighboring departments, but the new drug dog will be kept busy in Martins Ferry.
"We have been using whatever dog is available," Carpenter said. "We have used dogs from Wheeling or wherever they are available for a sniff. Most departments are good about allowing that and getting it to you as soon as possible, and we were always thankful for that. This is actually the first dog we have had since the 1970s. We will use it. These guys hustle, and our intelligence is second to none when it comes to narcotics. The people in this community are tired of the dope."
Ellie