Police dog shot while on duty still critical but is expected to survive

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Current News - Homefront Preparations : One Thread

By Louis Galvan The Fresno Bee (Published Saturday, August 24, 2002, 5:50 AM)

Saxon, the Fresno police dog wounded by a shotgun blast Thursday, was running a little fever Friday, but pending any serious complications his chances of surviving are good, a local veterinarian said. "He's beginning to be a real ham," said Dr. Roger Gfeller, chief of staff at the Veterinary Emergency Service, where the fallen K-9 officer is being treated. The fever might be from an infection, Gfeller said.

Saxon's condition remained the same as it was Thursday -- critical but stable.

"The response from the community has been huge," said Sgt. Tom Laband, who leads the Police Department's K-9 unit. "Everyone wants to know how he is doing and what they can do to help."

In another development, police said late Friday that bomb-making material and other weapons had been found at the home of Saxon's alleged assailant. No other details were available from police, who scheduled a Monday news conference about the case.

Numerous people dropped by the vet clinic Friday to see Saxon but were turned away to allow the dog quiet time to recuperate. Countless telephone calls and dozens of get-well cards have been received by the department, including a bunch of cards from a first-grade class at Powers-Ginsburg Elementary School in northwest Fresno.

Tim Tietjen, a member of the K-9 unit, and his police dog partner, Aram, visited the first-graders at Powers-Ginsburg to thank them.

"They were awesome," said Tietjen. "It meant a lot to all of us, and we read every single one of them."

One of the students, 6-year-old Michael Gillispie, said he loves dogs. Michael's father, Randall, suggested the letter-writing project to his son's teacher, Helen Pitton.

Michael wrote "get well soon" on his card and drew a picture of Saxon.

Gfeller said that although the 4-year-old Saxon is sedated with morphine, he has been trying to get up when he hears visitors or recognizes a voice, but his injuries prevent him from doing so.

Saxon is a Belgian Malinois. The American Kennel Club describes the breed as similar to a German Shepherd, but generally they are a lighter, quicker, more agile dog.

Considering what Saxon has gone through, it's encouraging to see him try to walk, Gfeller said. "He's had a rough time. He's experienced the trauma of being shot, going into shock and undergoing a long surgical procedure."

Although Saxon was struck by a number of shotgun pellets, it was the explosion from the shotgun -- fired at close range -- that did the most damage. "The skin on the left side of his chest was ripped open," Gfeller said.

The left front leg and right hind leg were struck by pellets, and the dog's right lung was punctured and had to be removed, he said. The dog also suffered a wound to his left ear and lost a toe on his left front paw.

Gfeller said the first 48 hours are critical in these types of cases. "He's already survived the first 24 hours and in another 24 hours we should have a better idea on how he is going to do."

He said Saxon was wagging his tail -- "always a good sign" -- and eating a little bit on his own. The dog is being fed a special, almost all-liquid diet.

Police say Saxon was shot Thursday morning by John Albert Majchen, 50, when police attempted to arrest the man on suspicion of firing several shots at a neighbor's home in the 1500 block of East Fountain Way.

Laband said Majchen was unarmed when officers contacted him outside his home, and then ran from the officers when they tried to detain him.

He said Saxon's handler, officer Russ Cornelison, turned Saxon loose on Majchen and that the dog was "attached" to one of Majchen's legs when Majchen reached his front door with Cornelison and other officers close behind.

When the suspect arrived at the door, his son, John, 18, opened the door and pulled his father inside, police said. The son allegedly pushed Cornelison out of the way when the officer tried to come through the door.

Laband said Cornelison regained his balance, knocked the son away from the door and was starting to run in when he saw the elder Majchen pointing a shotgun at him. Cornelison ducked seconds before a shotgun blast rang out, narrowly missing him.

The officers then heard a second shotgun blast.

Saxon staggered out of the house, circled the front yard and collapsed. The suspect's son, who was later arrested on a charge of interfering with police, picked up the wounded dog and carried it to the officers.

"If the son had not gotten in the way, this wouldn't have happened," Laband said. "Saxon already had gotten hold of the father, and the officers were ready to bring him down.

"What the son did just gave his father enough time to reach a weapon."

The elder Majchen was arrested on suspicion of assault on a peace officer with a deadly weapon, assault on a police dog, reckless discharge of a firearm and shooting into an inhabited dwelling.

Laband said Saxon is the department's first dog to be shot in the line of duty.

The K-9 unit was formed in 1993 and currently has 14 teams. Each dog works and lives with its handler.

While Saxon's future remains uncertain, Laband said there is already some talk in the department that should he not be able to return to patrol duty, he might be assigned to narcotics or to the bomb unit -- if he is able to return to work at all.

"Whatever we do," Laband said, "we will not put him out in the field if he is not capable of defending himself."

-- Anonymous, August 24, 2002

Answers

Glad to hear he's expected to recover!

-- Anonymous, August 24, 2002

Moderation questions? read the FAQ