In remembrance of Police K-9 Pajko

CEDAR CITY – The Cedar City Police Department and community are mourning the unexpected passing of police K-9 Pajko as they remember his service throughout the community.

Pajko was discovered dead Wednesday morning by his handler, Officer Jason Thomas, a little more than a month after he underwent emergency surgery for a twist in his stomach.

Police K-9 Pajko served with the Cedar City Police Department alongside his handler, Officer Jason Thomas, for more than two years before his passing, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of The Friends of Iron County Police K9 , St. George News
Police K-9 Pajko served with the Cedar City Police Department alongside his handler, Officer Jason Thomas, for more than two years before his passing, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of The Friends of Iron County Police K9, St. George News

Five-year-old Pajko served with the Cedar City Police Department alongside Thomas for more than two years. During that time, Pajko was responsible for the apprehension of many criminals and is credited with finding tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of drugs, according to the Police Department.

In 2013, Pajko seriously injured his neck and upper back while apprehending a suspect armed with a handgun.

“Jason nursed him through that – got him back certified again, working again,” Cedar City Police Chief Bob Allinson said.

All seemed to be well with Pajko until July, when Thomas learned Pajko was suffering from a twisted stomach.

Thomas wrote on The Friends of Iron County Police K9 Facebook page on July 5:

I looked outside this morning and could see that something was wrong. I started calling local vets but nobody would answer. I found a 24 hr hospital in St George so I headed there. As I suspected we found that he had twisted his stomach which in most cases is fatal.

Police K-9 Pajko undergoes surgery for a twisted stomach, St. George, Utah, July 5, 2015 | Photo courtesy of The Aleshea Trombley, St. George News
Police K-9 Pajko undergoes surgery for a twisted stomach, St. George, Utah, July 5, 2015 | Photo courtesy of The Aleshea Trombley, St. George News

We knew there were concerns with that surgery, Allinson said, but all indications were that he was healing great and doing well.

“I was able to be there when he needed me this time,” Thomas wrote on July 9. “Most of the time I need him.”

By July 19, Pajko was two weeks out of his surgery and was able to have his staples removed.

“They just got him back into training mode again not too long after that … and then Jason found him deceased this morning,” Allinson announced Wednesday.

Thomas wrote:

With great sorrow I announce the passing of K9 Pajko. This dog saved me several times while we worked together. He took lots of (bad) guys off the streets and his nose (helped) find lots of illegal narcotics. He protected the Cedar City citizens with true courage and honor. Pajko never hesitated to go into danger then turn around and go to a school event and put on a demonstration. I always trusted him. He’ll be missed tremendously.

Pajko’s passing came several hours before a couple who had donated money to pay for the dog’s medical bills were to be formally honored at a Cedar City Council meeting.

Police K-9 Pajko served with the Cedar City Police Department alongside his handler, Officer Jason Thomas, for more than two years before his passing, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of The Friends of Iron County Police K9, St. George News
Police K-9 Pajko served with the Cedar City Police Department alongside his handler, Officer Jason Thomas, for more than two years before his passing, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of The Friends of Iron County Police K9, St. George News

The Friends of Iron County Police K9 group had planned to attend the City Council meeting Wednesday evening to recognize and honor Dennis and June Schnarr, who stepped up to pay $2,500 for Pajko’s medical bills.

The Schnarrs were presented with something called a “challenge coin.”

The coins are typically reserved for officers who go above and beyond the call of duty, Allinson said; but every so often, the department awards one to a community member who has made an impact on community law enforcement in a tremendous and positive way.

The couple was able to donate funds through The Friends of Iron County Police K9 which was formed about 4 years ago to raise funds for police K-9 expenses.

“As you can tell, we all get pretty attached to them,” Allinson said, “but after they’ve served their time with us, because they do have medical problems and age and this is hard on them, they go into retirement. And we let them retire with their handler because they become their family, their family pet. They become very bonded and attached to each other.”

Prior to the program, the responsibility of the retired police K-9s’ medical expenses and upkeep fell back on the handler.

Find out more about how you can donate to The Friends of Iron County Police K9, here.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2015, all rights reserved.

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