Portsmouth, Va. - The Portsmouth Police Department honored two Police K-9s on Wednesday and recognized two others for recently graduating the Basic Patrol K9 Academy.
The two new K-9 teams are made up of Officer R. Hoel and two-year-old German Shepherd K9 Tomi and Officer P. Reynolds and two-year-old Belgian Malinois K-9 Chico.
They will work side by side with their handlers, apprehending criminals, searching buildings, and disarming suspects.
Police K9 Graf, a seven-year-old German Shepherd is retiring after six years of service.
Portsmouth Police say Graf has not only assisted the police department, but also Secret Service and Homeland Security.
He was recently diagnosed with cancer, which is forcing his retirement. He will undergo extensive chemotherapy.
His police officer handler will adopt him and pay for the $4,000 treatment.
Donations can be made in Graf's name to the Greenbrier Veterinary Emergency Clinic.
A Facebook page was established by friends to assist in donations for Graf’s treatment. The information is located at: https://www.facebook.com/DonationsForK9Graf
Portsmouth Police also honored 13-year-old K9 Cosmo, who died in May after complications from a medical emergency.
Cosmo served for 12 years and was involved with many criminal apprehensions, tracks and drug detection cases.
In 2006, Cosmo found and subdued a robbery suspect who had shot at an officer.
Cosmo received the Medal of Valor from the Virginia Police Working Dog Association while the suspect received a 40-year prison sentence.
In 2010, Cosmo found and detained a murder suspect after he, his handler and the SWAT team pursued the suspect in a wooded area.
Cosmo received the Award of Merit and was recognized by the German Shepherd Club of Virginia beach for his service.
The suspect received two life sentences.
