HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 02 K-9 Retirement - Perry
April 21, 2008
Springfield Upbeat ,
K-9 Retirement - Perry (Officer Tony Del Castillo)
K-9 Perry was born in Canada on March 18th 1998 in Canada. Sgt. Alan Carlson (ret) purchased
Perry as a puppy and trained him to be a police dog for the city. In August of2001 Perry began
working with Officer Rick Smith. Perry worked with Officer Smith until he left the team in
2004. Officer Del Castillo was then selected to be Perry's handler worked together until his
recent retirement.
During his years of service with the department Perry was credited with capturing 126 suspects
and recovering $44,587.00 in property. Perry was a very well rounded police dog who excelled
in all aspects of his job. Perry had a great demeanor which allowed him to go from fighting a
220lb suspect who didn't want to go to jail, and drive straight to a grade school where he would
roll over onto his back and gladly accept any petting that the young children had to offer. Perry
took top dog honors at the Bend Police K-9 competition in 2003. He also took top dog honors at
our own Springfield Police K-9 competition in 2005.
One of Perry's most memorable captures happened in2006. Perry and Officer Del Castillo had
just completed a K-9 demonstration at Thurston High School when the Lane County Sheriffs
Office requested their assistance. The Sheriffs office was investigating a home invasion robbery
where shots had been fired in the Elmira area. It took more than 30 minutes for Officer to arrive
at the location. Upon arrival Officer Del Castillo was advised two of the three suspects had been
located. Officer Del Castillo was further advised that the outstanding suspect-had been armed
with a shotgun when he fled from the residence. Officer Del Castillo allowed Perry to search the
wooded area arou,nd the residence off line and successfully located the suspect in about two
minutes. After a short struggle the suspect was taken into custody without further incident.
Officer Del Castillo and K-9 Perry escorted deputies and the suspect who was fully dressed in
camouflage out of the wooded area. As they neared the patrol car the suspect who was still
sobbing from his altercation with Perry looked ov~r to Officer Del Castillo and said "you have a
really good dog."
K-9 Perry spent most of his time in the patrol car lying down and sleeping. Other officers often
joked with Officer Del Castillo about Perry's lack of attention while in the car. Officer Del
Castillo explained that though Perry did not bark at everyone who walked by the patrol car he
was still very alert. This point was proven in the early morning hours of a December night in
2007. Officer Del Castillo was patrolling the new housing development in Mountain Gate when '
he came upon a subject walking down the driveway of an unoccupied newly constructed
residence. When the subject saw the Officer he dropped the large flat screen television he was
carrying and fled into the wooded area behind the residence. Officer Del Castillo exited his
patrol car and ordered the suspect to stop. Perry remained lying down in the back of the patrol
car until Officer Del Castillo popped open the back door. Before the door was completely
opened Perry was standing there and was already locked onto the suspect who was running into
the trees. Perry was then ordered to apprehend the suspect who ignored a second command to
stop. Perry took off after the suspect. The suspect sprayed Perry with pepper spray in an effort
to stop his advance. The spray had no effect on Perry who took hold of the suspect and held him
until Officer Del Castillo caught up and took the suspect into custody.
Perry now lives inside the Del Castillo residence where he chases the two cats relentlessly
around the house.