'An eternal symbol': Dover dedicates monument to city's deceased police dogs

Jon Baker, The Times-Reporter
·2 min read

DOVER ‒ The city's new K-9 monument is designed to serve as a last tribute to the dogs and their handlers that have served in the Dover Police Department to help maintain public safety.

The monument, located on the public square next to the police station, was unveiled at a short ceremony on Saturday.

The project was spearheaded by Councilwoman Sandy Moss, following the death of Dover's last K-9, Rex, in 2022.

Deceased police dogs honored

Dover K-9 Red plays with a toy Saturday in front of the city's new K-9 monument as his handler, Officer Jordan Doughty, watches.
Dover K-9 Red plays with a toy Saturday in front of the city's new K-9 monument as his handler, Officer Jordan Doughty, watches.

The monument has a sandstone base with little plaques on it in the shape of paw prints where the names of deceased police dogs are inscribed. There will be space to honor future K-9 officers that Dover may have. The monument is topped by a bronze statue of a Belgian Malinois designed by Lena Toritch of Young Fine Arts Studio in Salt Lake City, Utah. Rex was a Belgian Malinois.

Safety Director Gerry Mroczkowski has said that Rex, obtained by the city in 2014, was a great asset to the Dover Police Department, the Dover community and surrounding law enforcement partners.

Rex's name appears on the monument along with that of King, a German Shepherd that served as Dover's first police dog from 1974 to 1976.

The project was paid for with private donations, including a $15,000 donation from a relative of the wife of Officer William Nedrow, who was Rex's handler.

Chris Heslop, president of the Police K-9 Association who works for the Bureau of Professional Development at the Canton Police Department, said that Rex began his training in 2015.

"Bringing back the K-9 unit has been probably one of the best decisions the administration could make," he said. "Rex and Officer Nedrow made an impact in the city of Dover, and that will live on for years to come. The statue is an eternal symbol, not only of what lies before but what successes lie ahead."

Generosity of residents

Mayor Shane Gunnoe said the K-9 program is a reminder of how generous the residents of Dover are.

Dover cemetery department employees unveil the community's new K-9 monument during a ceremony Saturday.
Dover cemetery department employees unveil the community's new K-9 monument during a ceremony Saturday.

"I remember I was a Ward 2 councilman sitting next to Sandy when we talked about instituting the K-9 program. We said we'll go out and solicit community donations," he recalled. The city needed between $8,000 and $10,000 to start the program. "The community stepped up and made the program possible.

The city of Dover's new K-9 monument was unveiled at a ceremony on Saturday.
The city of Dover's new K-9 monument was unveiled at a ceremony on Saturday.

More on Rex: $15,000 donation caps effort to honor Dover police dogs

"I'm overwhelmed constantly with how generous our community is, how many projects are established by a group of individuals coming together and saying, this needs to happen and we're going to work together to raise the funds to make it happen."

Work is not finished on the monument, Moss said. A flagpole will be added in the spring which will fly the thin blue line flag. The flag is designed to show support for law enforcement.

Reach Jon at 330-364-8415 or at jon.baker@timesreporter.com.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Dover dedicates monument to city's deceased police dogs