'Great courage and dedication': Cranston police invite public to K-9 Lex's 'last call'

Jack Perry, The Providence Journal
·2 min read
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The Cranston Police Depfartment and city residents on Monday said goodbye to a police dog that "served the city with great courage and dedication."

The department honored K-9 Lex – with a procession including police motorcycles and K-9 cruisers – from the Final Gift Pet Memorial Center at 2 Daniels Way to Cranston police headquarters at 5 Garfield Ave.

Lex worked with Officer Nathan Bagshaw from July 2015 until this April. The dog died Thursday after having been diagnosed with with cancer about 18 months ago.
Lex worked with Officer Nathan Bagshaw from July 2015 until this April. The dog died Thursday after having been diagnosed with with cancer about 18 months ago.

After the procession arrived at the police station, Lex's final call was transmitted over a loudspeaker so civilians and police officers gathered outside could hear it.

More: Cranston Police Department increases its K9 power

Lex worked with Officer Nathan Bagshaw from July 2015 until this April. The dog died Thursday after having been diagnosed with with cancer about 18 months ago.

"Officer Bagshaw and Lex were a great team, spending countless hours together resulting in the seizure of large quantities of narcotics, illegal proceeds, firearms as well as apprehending dangerous criminals in the city of Cranston and neighboring communities," the department said in a Facebook post. "He was also responsible for tracking and locating missing persons and visiting many schools and public functions where he was always a hit, especially due to his calm and friendly disposition."

Cranston Officer Nathan Bagshaw shakes hands with Mayor Ken Hopkins during a "last call" ceremony for his K9 partner, Lex, at the Cranston police station Monday afternoon.
Cranston Officer Nathan Bagshaw shakes hands with Mayor Ken Hopkins during a "last call" ceremony for his K9 partner, Lex, at the Cranston police station Monday afternoon.

In his "well-deserved" retirement, Lex was able to "enjoy valuable time in retirement with the entire Bagshaw family, including Officer Bagshaw’s son and daughter, who cherished him as a family pet that they had known since a very young age," the Cranston police said. "During his retirement he enjoyed random trips to Dunkin' Donuts in Coventry on the weekends to enjoy a donut given to him by the admiring employees."

The color guard for the "last call" ceremony for Cranston police dog Lex on Monday afternoon.
The color guard for the "last call" ceremony for Cranston police dog Lex on Monday afternoon.

More: Massachusetts State Police K-9, killed in line of duty, escorted with 'full honors' to RI

Leaving the memorial center, the procession will travel on Western Industrial Drive, right onto Comstock Parkway to Scituate Avenue to Phenix Avenue, where it will travel east onto Park Street then to Gansett Avenue to Cranston Street and onto Garfield.

jperry@providencejournal.com

(401) 277-7614

On Twitter: @jgregoryperry

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This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Cranston RI police to honor K-9 Lex with procession, 'last call' today