A fallen comrade: Montevallo police dog dies from cancer

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, May 2, 2007

Police officers from all over Shelby County turned out Thursday to remember a fallen comrade &045;&045; one whose work was always right on the nose.

Montevallo&8217;s drug sniffing officer, Kilo, died early last month after a brief battle with large cell lymphoma. The 3-year-old Dutch Shepherd was euthanasized April 3 by a local veterinarian.

For his years of service, Kilo was remembered Thursday afternoon with a memorial service at the Orr Park Gazebo.

&8220;He was very much a part of this department,&8221; said Montevallo Police Chief Kevin Peters. &8220;He will be very much missed.&8221;

Officer Chad Lovelady, who trained Kilo from a puppy, got a little teary-eyed when describing what his dog meant to him and the Montevallo Police Department.

&8220;He was a great partner and a great friend,&8221; said Lovelady. &8220;He was loved and is in a better place now.&8221;

Lovelady, 32, and his wife, Jessica, described Kilo as a smart, loyal dog who loved to go to work each day.

&8220;He brought so much joy to us,&8221; said Lovelady.

Chief Peters said the service was a fitting way to pay tribute to a fallen comrade &8212; albeit a four-legged one.

&8220;This is a great loss to our department. A dog has a love that is what we all should strive for &045;&045; it is an unconditional love,&8221; said Peters. &8220;There&8217;s no doubt Kilo would have given his life for Chad.&8221;

The department expects to receive another dog from the Alabama Canine Unit in the coming months.

Until then, Lovelady will bring Hiako, a Belgian Malinois, out of an early retirement