San Jacinto Police Department Welcomes New K-9 Officer after Tragic Death of “Sultan”
After mourning the death of San Jacinto Police K-9 Sultan in January, the department officially welcomed a new K-9 officer on Wednesday March 18, 2015.
On Wednesday, January 21, 2015, San Jacinto Police K-9 Sultan along with his handler, Deputy Mark Wallace were searching for a wanted felon. Sultan had tracked the man underneath a house and the suspect shot him. Deputy Wallace rushed his wounded partner to an animal hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The suspect, later identified as 36-year-old Todd Allen Hodge remained under the house, refusing to surrender and creating a standoff that lasted at least nine hours. The SWAT team was called in and utilizing flash-bang grenades were able to get the Hodge to emerge. Hodge however, emerged armed and was shot and killed.
K-9 Sultan was a narcotics and tracking canine. He had served with the San Jacinto Police Department, for two years. Since the loss of Sultan prompted an overwhelming outpouring of condolences and support from the public. A service was held for Sultan at the War Dog Memorial near March Air Reserve Base in Riverside in February and hundreds attended.
This outpouring of positive sentiment included that of Dave and Pip Reaver, owners of Adlerhorst International Kennels, who generously donated a police service dog to the San Jacinto Police Department.
The city of San Jacinto kindly accepted the donation and welcomed the new member of their police department. The city of San Jacinto announced this week that Deputy Wallace has begun the basic K-9 handler’s academy with his new partner, “Kyra”.
According to a press release from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, Kyra is a 23-month-old Dutch Shepherd from the Netherlands. After advancing from the basic K-9 handler’s academy, Deputy Wallace and Kyra will begin patrol together in the city of San Jacinto.
