16 Names Of K-9s To Be Added To Regional K-9 Law Enforcement Memorial

TEMPLE TERRACE, FL — Sixteen area law enforcement K-9s who have reached the end of watch will be remembered as part of a ceremony to honor all law enforcement K-9s at Temple Terrace City Hall, 11250 N. 56th St., Temple Terrace, at 8:30 am on Thursday, May 18.

City Hall is the site of the Regional Law Enforcement K-9 Memorial, the result of a partnership between the city and the Nam Knights Westside Motorcycle Club. Dedicated last June, the centerpiece of the memorial is a bronze statue of Temple Terrace Police Department K-9 Aramis, surrounded by bricks engraved with other K-9 officers who have reached the end of watch.

Those who died in the line of duty are marked with a gold star. The memorial began with 34 tributes. The additional 16 bricks honor K-9s from the sheriff's offices in Palm Beach as well as Alachua, Collier and Hillsborough counties, the Florida Highway Patrol and police departments in Lake Wales, Niceville and Plant City.

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"The Temple Terrace Police Department is honored to serve as the host agency for this very important and long overdue tribute to our K-9 partners," said Temple Terrace Police Chief Ken Albano. "This regional K-9 memorial serves as a constant reminder to all who have had the opportunity to see it of the unfailing loyalty, commitment and fearless dedication to duty that is the hallmark of all law enforcement K-9s' service to their communities."

The Nam Knights raised approximately $30,000 over the course of several years to purchase the materials for the memorial.

"The Westside Chapter of the Nam Knights Motorcycle Club has a long history of providing assistance to military veterans and law enforcement in the Bay area," said Deputy Travis Wright, president of the club and a K-9 handler with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.