NCIS Dog Names

Jethro and his human partner, Officer Ryan Davis, responded to an alarm at a grocery store. They entered the building together and the burglar, Kelontre D. Barefield, fired quickly. Jethro was hit by bullets three times, once in the face, once in the neck, and once in the shoulder. At first there was hope that Jethro would survive. He made it through the night but died the next morning after taking a sudden turn for the worse. It was the end of watch for K-9 Officer Jethro.

Jethro was different than many K-9 officers. He wasn't meant to be a police officer. Ryan Davis and his wife bought  the beautiful German Shepherd with the soulful eyes as a family pet when he was just 8 weeks old. Officer Davis recognized his skill, daring, and abilities though, and Jethro began to train to work his beat with him. Jethro turned three years old the day he was buried. Davis and Jethro had been together for all of Jethro's life except the first two months. That made the loss even harder for Davis to take.

People from all across the country mourned Jethro. Hundreds of police officers, human and K-9 attended his funeral. Jethro received the Certificate of Valor presented posthumously by the American Kennel Club. There is a life sized  bronze statue of Jethro standing guard at the police station. Jethro's death has impelled a fundraising drive to buy bullet proof vests for other K-9s. Some good has come from his death. Ryan Davis will be forever grateful to his dog for saving his life. 

Jethro, like so many other K-9 officers, didn't hesitate to charge into danger, didn't hesitate to give his life to save his partner's. He is one in a long line of K-9s to die in the line of duty. So lets take a minute to think about these brave dogs who are so loyal and loving.  We know more of them will be killed in the future but we pray many will be saved with the gift of lifesaving bullet proof vests. As for the man who shot Jethro? He got sentenced to 45 years in prison. And he deserves no less.