‘Hero’ K-9 put down

When his longtime K9 partner began barking incessantly on Wednesday, a Chester County police chief knew something was terribly wrong.

Such behavior was out of character for Ricky, an 11-year-old German shepherd with an outstanding temperament, West Caln Township Police Chief Curt A. Martinez said.

Hours later, after visits to the veterinarian and the animal hospital, Martinez learned the reason for the dog's distress: a softball-size tumor in his spleen.

"He was clearly in pain," Martinez said today. "We had to put him down.

"Everyone in the township is taking it pretty hard," Martinez added. "It's a loss to the community, too; he was a great police dog."

Among his accomplishments: helping protect two presidents; assisting at ground zero after 9/11; apprehending numerous criminals; checking hundreds of potential bomb sites, four of which contained live material; locating two missing children, one of whom was autistic; and interacting with thousands of elementary-school students.

Ricky's law-enforcement career began when he was less than a year old and was purchased by the Coatesville Area School District as an addition to the security force. At the time, Martinez was working as a school district officer, and trained with Ricky in Philadelphia, where the dog learned patrol duties and bomb detection.

For several years, the partnership flourished, and the school district benefitted. Rather than waiting hours to borrow a police dog whenever a bomb threat occurred, Ricky enabled officials to issue an all-clear in an hour.

But in May 2002, a budget crisis prompted the district to put Ricky on the auction block, a decision that provoked public outrage and led to Ricky's appearance in People magazine.

The publicity helped raise the approximate $4,000 needed for Martinez to buy Ricky, he said. So when Martinez changed police departments, Ricky went with him. Martinez has led the West Caln force for three years.

Ricky worked often in Chester, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties, generating hundreds of thank-you letters and commendations, Martinez said.

One example of his service occurred in March 2007, when 25 police departments were involved in the pursuit of a potentially dangerous burglary suspect in Chester County.

Ricky brought him down, jumping out of a half-open window in Martinez's police car after the suspect had ignored Martinez's command to surrender and attacked the officer.

"I wouldn't be where I am today if it weren't for him," Martinez said.

A memorial service will be planned, but Martinez has not worked out the details.

"It's very hard; he was part of our family," said Martinez, adding his 15-year-old son "basically grew up" with Ricky.

"And he was a true hero."