Surviving Family Of Modesto Police Officer Will Adopt His K9 Service D

Lori Ennis
by Lori Ennis
Tragedy struck a Modesto, California family in August when Sgt. Mike Pershall was killed by a drunk driver. City Council has allowed Sgt. Pershall’s K9 dog to retire and live with the officer’s family.


In August, Sgt. Mike Pershall was killed by a drunk driver. As his family has moved forward, the Modesto City Council has voted unanimously to sell Ike–Sgt. Pershall’s police K9 dog–to his surviving family members for just $1.


Related: Hundreds of Dog Statues Will Honor Fallen Police Officers and K9 Partners


Police Chief Galen Carroll said that he knows most K9s work until they are up to ten-years-old, but felt giving Ike to the family was the right thing to do in light of their tragic loss. He recognizes that the Police Department will lose out on the ‘transaction’ as the three-year-old Belgian Malinois cost the department $9,137. That said, Chief Carroll says that the family has lost their dad and Ike was their family dog. He belongs with them.


The people of Modesto have been generous with the family as well, as they’ve volunteered to donate toward the purchase of another police dog for the department. Carroll says that the Modesto Police Canine Association may also help–as they paid for the purchase of the last police dog.


Related: Fallen Officer Puppy Program a Tribute to Fallen Officers


Sgt. Pershall had been Ike’s handler for two years. Right before Sgt. Pershall died, he was promoted and Ike was to be turned over to a new handler for training. Since Sgt. Pershall’s death, though, he’s been with the family. Now, he’ll remain forever, serving and protecting them just as Sgt. Pershall would want.

Lori Ennis
Lori Ennis

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