Police Dog Who Helped in 9-11 Recovery Dies

From WUSA 9 in Washington, D.C. [photo credit: Ibid]: Police Dog Who Helped in 9-11 Recovery Dies:

Stryker [pictured right] worked some of the most high-profile cases in our area.

After the terrorist plane crash into the Pentagon on September 11, 2001 the German Shephard–along with his handler, Park Police Officer Alice Hanan, searched the building for survivors and the dead. The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) says Stryker made 108 finds in the disaster’s aftermath.

Stryker helped search for missing persons Michelle Dorr, Susan Stottmeister and Chandra Levy. He was also brought in after the water taxi accident in Baltimore Harbor in 2004.

The dog also helped in 113 drug arrests that resulted in $152,923 worth of drugs being taken off the streets.

In all, Stryker worked close to 900 crime-fighting and rescue missions during his service with the M-NCPPC Park Police, Montgomery County Division. He was with the department from 1997 to 2004.

M-NCPPC tell 9NEWS NOW that on July 30th Stryker had to be euthanized. He was suffering from muscular problems that resulted in him not being able to use his hind legs. Stryker was 11-and-a-half years old.

The Park Police adopted Stryker when he was one years old. He was born in Czechoslovakia.

In a news release, M-NCPPC Park Police describe Stryker as “one of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission’s most beloved K9 workers.”

Handler, Alice Hanan, says “Stryker was an incredible K9 partner and I am honored and thankful for our time together….He had the best life possible for a dog and I am pretty sure he knew that. Thanks to everyone who helped us along the way.”

Stryker and Hanan were named the Park Police K9 team of the year 4 years in a row from 1999 to 2002.