Honoring Hero Harlej
developed in communication and coordination with the Fishers Police Department. Due to the power of social media, Saxony residents wanted to launch a GoFundMe campaign that they would share more broadly and perhaps reach a different audience of donors than a direct contribution to the Foundation. The larger the audience we reach, the more money we can raise for the FBD K9 unit. Saxony and surrounding residents were directly impacted by this senseless crime and are passionate about wanting to honor Harlej, his handler, the other dogs on the K9 force, and all the officers at FPD. Wanting to do something as a neighborhood and community to thank FBD and its K9 unit is what prompted this GoFundMe campaign.
Please share this link with as many friends, family, and neighbors as you can!!
HONOR HERO HARLEJ
The Fishers community and Saxony neighborhood residents were made acutely aware of this need when K-9 officer Harlej (pronounced "Harlee") a Belgian Malinois on the FPD K-9 force since 2014, was shot and killed during a police chase and hunt for an armed suspect in Saxony early Wednesday morning 11/13/2019. This is the first K-9 loss for the Fishers Police Department (FPD). K-9 officer Harlej is a fallen hero and deserves to be treated as such.
There is a lot of emotion in our community. We feel the loss. We feel the compassion for a fallen K-9 officer and the grief of his handler and fellow officers. We also feel a deep sense of gratitude for what our human officers and K-9 officers do on a regular basis to keep our community, neighborhoods, and families safe. It is difficult to understand the events that transpired on that frigid Wednesday morning. It is even more difficult to process the feeling of helplessness. Why here? Why did the suspect shoot and kill Harlej without remorse? What can we as a community and neighborhood do to help? What can we do to honor K-9 officer Harlej?
In Harlej’s honor and to support and protect K-9 officers, we want to raise funds directly benefit the FPD K-9 unit. Harlej lost his life saving the lives of his fellow officer and ours and we want to help make sure the K9 force has everything it needs now and in the future.
All of the funds raised here at Honor Hero Harlej will go directly to support the needs of the Fishers Police Department K9 unit. Saxony residents Cheryl Nichols and Jan Michelsen have been working closely with the FPD to be sure the Saxony community, our neighboring communities, and the entire Fishers and Hamilton County area remember and honor Harlej, our fallen K9 hero. We have received donations from as far away as Arizona, and from individuals who care deeply about animals, especially those like Harlej who lived a life of service.
Please help us provide a way for our FPD K-9 unit to continue to do their jobs by donating whatever you can to this cause. Please keep Harlej, his grieving handler, and the entire FPD in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you.
November 13 at 1:51 PM ·
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Last night, was the night as a K9 handler you train your heart for but are never truly ready for.
I lost my K9 partner Harlej early this morning doing what he loved.
My memories of him are just pure joy and happiness. He was the most dedicated, hard working, and always in relentless pursuit of everything we did.
Nobody will ever know the time it takes for a K9 to be successful. But everyone will see the successes and we had a lot of successes together.
Harlej and I spent countless hours together in the nearly 5 years I had him. I think about all the hours of trainings we had and the countless hours we spent together in the car driving around Fishers.
I think about all the men and women who played a role into making him great and great he was!
Harlej and I assisted in a lot of arrests and helped get a lot of bad people off of the streets to help keep the city of Fishers safe.
I will always remember how quiet Harlej was in my car, but at the same time remembering every time that I got out of my car and could see his glowing eyes staring at me with his ears up high. He always waited to be called and was ready to do whatever I asked of him. Harlej did it without fear. I knew every time I got him out of my car, he was going to help every time. Whether that was to find drugs during a walk around or tracking down a fleeing felon.
I know you’re chewing on some tennis balls right now buddy. Daddy loves you and I’m so glad you were my partner and in my life.
Love you Hars!
You are a REAL hero today buddy. And you saved our lives last night.
EOW 11/13/2019
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