Build A Police K9 Memorial Cemetery
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Hello, my name is Emmett Idzahl and I'm fundraising to build a new Police K9 Memorial Cemetery. This project will not only honor the past and present working Police K9s of the Wall Township Police Department, it will also offer a beautiful and respectful final resting place for the Police K9s that have served the Wall Township Police Department and its community. I thank you in advance for taking the time to read a little bit about myself and the driving force behind my motivation for this project.
I have been a member of the Wall Township Police Department serving as a patrolman since 2003. In 2012, I had the fortune of being selected to become a K9 handler in the K9 unit, which at the time consisted of only two other K9 teams. I considered being in the K9 unit as a calling, not just something I wanted to try out to see if it was "cool". I truly believe that being a member of the K9 unit was not only how I could best serve the Police Department, but more importantly how I could best serve the community. My K9 partner, Daza, and I proudly served the Wall Township Police Department and the community as a K9 team for 9 years.
In my opinion, Police K9s are the unsung heroes of any Police Department. Although Police K9s are mostly utilized for their specialized capabilities in dire or extreme situations, they are just like their human counterparts when it comes to their job. Police K9s will take a bullet for you, they are sent to find lost or missing people, sent to track down criminals on the run, they find drugs, weapons and even explosives, they're the first ones in and the last ones out, and they would lay down their lives for you. The only difference is that they don't get paid to do it! The only thing they ask for is compassion, a kind word and respect for the years of loyalty they have given. Compassion.
Before I go any further, I’d like to tell you about my K9 partner, K9 Daza. Daza came to America from Germany when she was a 1 year old puppy. Shortly after her arrival and being "hired" by the Wall Township Police Department, she (we) spent the next year going through two K9 schools. One for scent detection (narcotics) and the other for patrol purposes (finding people or items). Daza then served the department for the next 8 years, receiving several recognitions and citations. Daza worked days, nights, weekends, holidays, in stormy weather, in the blazing heat and freezing cold without hesitating to put herself out in front of danger and working until she couldn't go any further (or until I had to call it quits!). And not once did I hear her complain (lol) or see a speck of quit in her eyes!
K9 Daza was retired by the department on April 1, 2021, at the age of 10. Upon a Police K9s retirement, the Wall Township Police Department allows the handler to keep their partner as a pet to live out the rest of their lives. Well, unfortunately Daza's retirement only lasted 2 years when she had to be put down at the age of 12. As hard as that was on me and my family, it was nothing compared to the emotions I went through when I was denied to have Daza's final resting place be in the Wall Township Police K9 Cemetery located on the property. The reason I was given was because there was going to be some sort of construction on or by the cemetery starting in the next few years or so.
K9 Daza, as with the majority of Police K9s across the nation, give their lives to serving their departments. Since their careers aren't as long as their human counterparts, I feel Police K9s are often overlooked and relatively quickly forgotten about. I feel that Police K9s deserve to be recognized, honored and remembered for their years of loyal service.
A few days after being told that I couldn't bury Daza in the K9 Cemetery because of the upcoming construction, and learned that there were no concrete plans on what was going to be done with the existing K9 Cemetery and the dogs that are already buried there, I was asked by the Police Department if I would be interested in building a new Police K9 Cemetery. I jumped at the opportunity and asked if I could make it a memorial as well, advising that I would fundraise to support the whole project. The Police Department gave the permission, as well as approving the plot of land to be utilized for the site.
I want this project to be constructed on the foundation of Compassion for these Police K9s…with Respect for these Police K9…and have a plaque that says a Few Kind Words about these Police K9s. My vision is to build a new Police K9 Memorial Cemetery to RECOGNIZE and HONOR the past, present and future Police K9s, to provide a beautiful and honorable final resting place for the Police K9s, and to raise awareness of how important Police K9s are to their department and to their community.
Donations will be going towards a bronze sculpture of a Police K9 in the sitting position (like the one pictured) on top of a granite base, placed on a paver type flooring. Behind the sculpture there will be a 3 ft tall semi-circular wall to separate the memorial/cemetery from the rest of the lawn. Inside the semi-circular area, approximately 4 feet away from the inside of the wall will be individual plaques/grave markers with the Police K9s name, badge number and the years they served. There will be a flagpole in the middle of the memorial/cemetery and there will also be several additional plaques saying a few kind words about Police K9s. Any remaining money will be put into the Wall Township Police Department's K9 budget for maintenance and upkeep of the site.
Former K9 handlers that have cremated their partners will be encouraged to bury their partners ashes in a small urn under their partner's plaque/grave marker.
Any amount you're willing to contribute will be greatly appreciated. If you aren't able to contribute money at this time, a share with your friends and family will be greatly appreciated as well. I thank you for your time in reading this.
Organizer
Emmett Idzahl
Organizer
Howell, NJ