Crime & Safety
Iowa City Police Department K-9 Dies During Training
Becky, a K-9 unit with the Iowa City Police force, died after contracting a case of bloat.
Media Release
The Iowa City Police Department regretfully announces that on November 19, 2012, K-9 Becky passed away. Becky, a 5 year-old Dutch Shepard, joined the Iowa City Police Department in 2009. Until October of 2012, Becky was partnered with Officer Matt Hansen. During their time together Becky assisted in the numerous narcotics seizures and apprehension of criminal suspects. Most notably in in 2010 Officer Hansen and Becky assisted the Johnson County and Muscatine County Sheriff's Offices with tracking a driver who fled from the scene of a chase. Becky and Officer Hansen tracked the driver for just under 5 miles in single digit temperatures before they located the driver and successfully took him into custody.
In October 2012, after Officer Hansen's departure from the department to pursue other career opportunities, Becky was partnered with Officer Brandon Faulkcon. Officer Faulkcon and Becky were training together at Vohne Liche Kennels in Peru, Indiana when Becky suffered a fatal case of a bloat, an unfortunate, but not uncommon occurrence in large breeds.
The department will be seeking a replacement for Becky in the near future.
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