PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release
- SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT K-9 UNIT HAS RAISED ENOUGH MONEY FOR K-9 MEMORIAL
March 18, 2008
Modesto, CA- The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s K9 Unit has
commissioned Stone Bella of Modesto to design a memorial for their past
four legged partners. The Sheriff’s Department first introduced K9’s to
the force in 1981 with the original teams of Detective Lydell Wall and
his K9 partner Si along with Sergeant Lloyd Allen and his K9 partner
Bean. Thirty-two K9’s have followed in the paw-steps of the original
K9’s. Of the thirty-two K9’s, nineteen have passed of natural causes. No
Stanislaus Sheriff K9’s have died due to injuries received while on
duty.
Several years ago the K9 Unit began collecting funds to build a memorial for the past K9’s. The K9 Unit sold T-shirts and coins to raise money. The Unit first started with smaller designs. Then with a gracious donation from Gary Baird, they began looking at a bigger and grander memorial. The trouble was, finding someone to design the memorial that shared the Units vision.
Several companies were contacted, but did not seem interested. K9 Deputy Ballance said he knew Stone Bella, an architectural and monument designs business in Modesto, would be interested in designing their memorial after speaking with Frank Bradbury on the phone. Deputy Ballance met with the Bradbury’s at their business on Kearny Ave in Modesto. Several weeks later several designs were presented to the K9 Unit. The cost to build the memorial was double what the K9 Unit had raised. The Bradbury’s have donated the remaining amount to build the memorial.
The final design consists of a full size bronzed German Sheppard standing posed on a 4-foot by 4-foot by 8-foot block of black granite. A seven-point star will be carved through the side of the granite block. The names and photographs of the 19 passed K9’s will be engraved on brass plaques and placed on the face of the granite block. The German Sheppard will be patterned after Deputy Albers K9 partner Axel. The first photographs and measurements were taken. The Sheriff’s K9 Unit hopes to unveil the memorial in a few months. The public will be invited to the unveiling.
Several years ago the K9 Unit began collecting funds to build a memorial for the past K9’s. The K9 Unit sold T-shirts and coins to raise money. The Unit first started with smaller designs. Then with a gracious donation from Gary Baird, they began looking at a bigger and grander memorial. The trouble was, finding someone to design the memorial that shared the Units vision.
Several companies were contacted, but did not seem interested. K9 Deputy Ballance said he knew Stone Bella, an architectural and monument designs business in Modesto, would be interested in designing their memorial after speaking with Frank Bradbury on the phone. Deputy Ballance met with the Bradbury’s at their business on Kearny Ave in Modesto. Several weeks later several designs were presented to the K9 Unit. The cost to build the memorial was double what the K9 Unit had raised. The Bradbury’s have donated the remaining amount to build the memorial.
The final design consists of a full size bronzed German Sheppard standing posed on a 4-foot by 4-foot by 8-foot block of black granite. A seven-point star will be carved through the side of the granite block. The names and photographs of the 19 passed K9’s will be engraved on brass plaques and placed on the face of the granite block. The German Sheppard will be patterned after Deputy Albers K9 partner Axel. The first photographs and measurements were taken. The Sheriff’s K9 Unit hopes to unveil the memorial in a few months. The public will be invited to the unveiling.
For information regarding this press release
please contact Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department Public Information
Officer Royjindar Singh (209) 567-4401.