Honor K-9 Dasty on Thursday

ARLINGTON— Arlington Police are hosting a public memorial service for K-9 Dasty at 10:00a.m. on Thursday, August 17. K-9 Dasty died on Sunday after a brief battle with cancer.

At 10 a.m. a procession will be taking place in front of the station with K9 Units from across the state and a short ceremony will be held following the procession on the Brian R. Greeley Memorial Plaza at the rear of the police station.

The public is encouraged to park in the Russell Common Municipal Lot behind St. Agnes Church. There will be free parking until noon.

A 12-year-old German Shepherd, Dasty was paired with Patrol Officer Michael Hogan and has been with the Arlington Police Department for his entire life.

“Dasty was just as comfortable rolling over for middle school students as he was chasing down a suspect or locating an illegal firearm at a crime scene,” Chief Ryan said. “He was everything we expect out of a police officer, and he will be greatly missed not only by the Arlington Police Department but also by the community as a whole.” Virtually every child in Arlington knew Dasty, as he spent the last decade in Arlington Schools, interacting with students and conducting demonstrations every year at Town Day and the Health, Recreation and Cops (HRC) Summer Camp.

Dasty even made two appearances on TV’s Animal Planet. “Dasty was more than just a K-9, he was my partner, and he was a terrific one at that,” said Officer Hogan. “Together, we tackled numerous cases, but more importantly, we interacted with the community and developed relationships with residents that will be remembered for many, many years to come.”

Throughout his career, Dasty has responded to more than 600 calls for service, assisted in more than 40 felony arrests and was involved in 117 narcotic and evidence seizures including more than $100,000 in cash, as well as large seizures of marijuana, cocaine, heroin and several firearms. Some of Dasty’s more notable cases include locating a gun that was used in a shooting near Thorndike Field in 2015, apprehending and disarming a robbery suspect in East Arlington in 2011, and tracking and apprehending a burglary suspect from Beverly Road all the way to Mystic Valley Parkway near River Street in 2007.

Dasty has assisted the United States Drug Enforcement Administration in the seizure of two kilograms of heroin, and, in 2016 alone, Dasty was responsible for the seizure of $48,000 in drug money. In 2013, Dasty was assigned to the Presidential Security Detail in Boston during President Barack Obama’s visit after the Boston Marathon Bombings. He also assisted with the search for the bombing suspects in Watertown. Dasty will be sorely missed by the Arlington community.