By John Collins
The Lowell Sun
CHELMSFORD, Mass. — As requested by an overwhelming number of Chelmsford residents who were saddened by the death of the town’s beloved police dog, Andy, Police Chief James Murphy announced that a fund has been set up in Andy’s memory to cover the cost of acquiring a new partner for K-9 Officer David Leo.
“There will never be another dog that can replace Andy, but I promise that when and if I get my new K-9 partner, I will work just as hard to make the community that much safer,” Officer Leo wrote on The Sun’s online message board Wednesday night.
A 6-year-old German shepherd who had posted Babe Ruthian (or “Roof-ian”) drug-detection and foot-chase arrest numbers in his four years of working with Leo, Andy died suddenly last Sunday from what the veterinarian said was an intestinal tract infection.
Since then, Officer Leo and his family have received a flood of supportive comments and messages about the loss of their family member.
Other Chelmsford officers reported being stopped by residents asking to contribute to the K-9 program.
“I would like to take this time to thank everyone for the support that has been shown to my family and I, (and) to my department,” Leo wrote on Wednesday. “This has been an extremely difficult time.”
He also thanked Chief Murphy and Deputy Chief Scott Ubele for “telling me, ‘we will get through this.’ (Even though) Sunday morning at around 3 a.m., I wasn’t so sure.”
In addition to offers from individual residents, Chief Murphy said several businesses have called him, offering to make donations to a K-9 fund.
Anyone wishing to contribute to the fund can send a check, made out to the Chelmsford Police Dept., to the following address: Chelmsford Police Dept., 2 Olde North Road, Chelmsford, MA 01824. Attention: Police Chief’s Office.
Copyright 2008 The Lowell Sun