K9 Vasko

On June 24, 2004, at about 11:30 PM, PSD Vasko and I responded to a call of shots fired. While in route, the caller provided a description of the suspect vehicle and confirmed that one of our units was behind the vehicle. As the Deputy approached the suspect vehicle, it sped away and a short pursuit ensued. The two occupants bailed and fled on foot in opposite directions. I intercepted the driver and warned him to stop or I would release the K-9. He continued running. I released PSD Vasko and directed him to pursue and apprehend the felony suspect. We pursued the suspect behind several houses. As PSD Vasko got close, I heard one gunshot. PSD Vasko continued his apprehension and took the suspect to the ground. He was holding him by the thigh as I approached. I saw a muzzle-flash and heard 2 - 3 more shots. PSD Vasko recoiled from the suspect and began yelping. As I got closer, the suspect turned the gun on me. I fired 11 rounds, hitting the suspect between 6 - 10 times, incapacitating him.

I rushed PSD Vasko to the Animal Emergency and Referral Center, but despite their best efforts, he passed away about 12 hours later. The suspect was flown to a trauma center and is recovering in our county jail – awaiting trial. I later learned this suspect was one we had been looking for during the past three weeks. He had been on a 3-week crime spree that included shootings, robberies, car-jackings and false imprisonments. The owner of the car he had been driving was found locked in the trunk.

This was PSD Vasko’s 91st apprehension in just under three years. He had also been responsible for several street-level narcotics seizures and had appeared at over 100 public demonstrations. PSD Vasko was my 2nd patrol dog and he was a German Shepherd Dog import. We held certifications with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, North American Police Work Dog Association and The Police Work Dog Association of Florida.

I am currently working with my third patrol dog, a Dutch Shepherd named Pino, with the Saint Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, Saint Lucie County, Florida.