Dori: Seattle K9 killed in line of duty mourned; loss triggers memories for dog owners

Listeners who have ever truly loved a dog with their entire heart are grieving, following reports that a Seattle Police Department K-9, Jedi, was slashed to death Wednesday while tracking an alleged burglar armed with a machete and a knife on Beacon Hill.

His human handler was slashed in the face by the same alleged suspect before another Seattle police officer shot and killed the suspect.

Tears were shed by many of us when we learned more about the career-long bravery of this German Shepherd.

As the owner of dogs who have been extremely protective of his family and home, this one hit Dori hard. Research shows 2018 video of Jedi sniffing out a murder suspect in a Kent warehouse.

Another news story details an assault Jedi sustained in 2019 after a suspect in a Rainier Valley domestic order violation case. Jedi was bloodied after being punched in the nose three times, before he finally helped capture the suspect.

For many, like Dori, this story triggered memories of “civilian” pets who served their families. At nowhere near the same level of threat or danger, Dori’s last dog, Star, was equally loved for her loyalty. In one case, he recalls, Star stood sentry, patrolling the perimeter of the family deck while his then-teen daughters hosted several friends for an outdoor sleepover. Not until they awakened the next morning did they discover that Star – an Australian cattle dog/blue heeler – hadn’t slept a wink all night while protecting the girls.

That’s the thing about loyal dogs, Dori says. They will take on danger. They will put themselves between you and your greatest danger. They will take the bullet. They will take the knife.

On Facebook’s Safe Seattle site, SPD officer and K-9 handler Anthony Ducre shared his memory of Jedi:

“Honestly, he was just a happy guy. I’m lucky enough to get to pet and treat the K9s. Out of all the SPD pups, Jedi was just my favorite because of his happy goofy personality. I mean I’ve worked a bunch of stuff with him where he chased the bad guy, got a guy with a gun, saved a DV victim – but no matter what his handler asked of him, he was intense until he wasn’t. Then he was all play and – shhhh, don’t tell anyone – but he was a pretty great snuggler, too. There are lots of videos of Jedi in action, but no one knows his dark secret love of the spot just above his tail scratched.”

After Jedi’s death, K9 Officer Chris dedicated John 15:13 to the slain officer: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

Listen to the Dori Monson Show weekday afternoons from noon – 3 p.m. on KIRO Radio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.

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