The publication is reproduced in full below:
RECOGNIZING COCOA POLICE DEPARTMENT'S K-9 BEAR FOR HIS YEARS OF BRAVE
SERVICE TO RESIDENTS OF COCOA, FLORIDA
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HON. BILL POSEY
of florida
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, October 25, 2022
Mr. POSEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the retirement and brave service of K-9 Bear to the Cocoa Police Department and to our Congressional District. K-9 Bear, the 9-year-old German Shepherd, not only fulfilled his duty to protect his partner, K-9 Officer Dan Rhoades, but protected his community for more than eight years.
K-9 Bear started in 2014 working as a dual-certified patrol K-9 at the Cocoa Police Department. There he underwent comprehensive trainings in everything from tracking fleeing suspects to locating missing persons, as well as finding illegal drugs and other evidence in criminal cases. K-9 Bear also served alongside the elite Cocoa Police Department's SWAT team.
During his career, K-9 Bear worked to recover illegal drugs, taking them off the streets, keeping our families and neighborhoods safe. Many say fleeing suspects gave up the fight at just the sound of K-9 Bear's ferocious bawl. K-9 Bear and K-9 Officer Dan Rhoades' close relationship produced results, and K-9 Bear's exemplary skills and dedication proved to be a valuable asset to the department and the community.
America's Top Dog, on A&E Network, a show where the most elite police K-9 teams compete, even highlighted K-9 Bear and Officer Rhoades' special partnership. Team Bear, demonstrating their most excellent skills, won the competition and brought home a $10,000 prize to donate to the Cocoa High Athletics Department for an improvement project. Because of K-9 Bear's efforts, America's Top Dog made an additional
$5,000 donation to the charity of their choice, the Space Coast K-9 Competition, presented by the Cocoa Police Department in partnership with Space Coast Police K-9 Foundation.
K-9 Bear was not just a tool to help his human police officer. K-9 Bear was, and will always be, a loyal friend. Today we celebrate K-9 Bear's tenure at the Cocoa Police Department and commend him for always doing his duty to protect our community. I urge my colleagues to join me as we wish K-9 Bear well in retirement.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 168(1), Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 168(2)
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