Catasauqua, area police pause to honor K-9 Jack
Catasauqua residents and police department personnel were joined by K-9 units from around the Lehigh Valley Nov. 10 to commemorate the life of K-9 Jack the Ripper, who died Oct. 29. He was 10 years old and had been scheduled to retire in a few weeks.
Brubaker Funeral Home on Walnut Street was the site of the service.
“We have never done anything like this before,” said Andrew Brubaker, who donated the site for a memorial event. “It was a unique service.”
Patrolman David Jones, South Whitehall Police Department, played the bagpipes to start the ceremony. The Rev. Scott Paradise of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church made the opening remarks.
He also offered a blessing of the K-9s who were in attendance with their human partners.
The blessing turned out to be an exciting event, as police dogs don’t tend to play well together. However, they all did get blessed and safely back into their cars.
Borough Mayor Barbara Schlegel made her remarks on Jack’s dedication to the borough. Schlegel was instrumental in bringing K-9 services to the borough and supported the department with fundraisers.
Jack worked on drug arrests and other police work. He also participated in community service projects, including visits to schools, the YMCA and other sites.
Catasauqua Police Chief Douglas Kish reminisced all with stories about Jack’s career, which spanned eight years.
“He came into my office every morning for a uniform inspection,” he said. “He needed to be petted too.”
Officer John Wiseman was Jack’s handler and companion.
“When Officer Wiseman came on the force, he persuaded us to take on a K-9. He said that was what he always wanted to do,” Kish said.
The standards set by Jack and Wiseman were key in continuing the program.
“I don’t think we can see a time when the borough would be without a K-9,” Schlegel said.
The Patriot Guard formed a cordon to guide Jack’s ashes into his police car. The Patriot Guard is a group of veterans and motorcycle enthusiasts who, when asked, pledge to show at funerals for veterans and police officers.