Reviews

Police dog, Pietie, was cited for outstanding performance during his five years with the Wilmington Police Department.
He died Wednesday, February 19, from an allergic reaction to anesthesia. Wilmington police spokesman, Lt. John Snyder said a foreign substance lodged in K-9 Pietie’s nose while he was tracking a suspect last month with his partner, Officer Donnie Witte. The unknown substance caused an infection. Pietie was taken to “Veterinarian Imaging” in Ambler, PA to undergo an MRI. While being prepped for the procedure, Pietie had an allergic reaction to the anesthesia and died. Among his many awards, he was honored with a
DistinguishedService Ribbon
for assisting an officer who witnessed a gun fight at 24th
& Tatnall Sts. on August 8, 2001. Snyder said Pietie would especially be missed by city children whom he frequently visited at the schools.

Police from 4 states pay last respects to Wilmington K-9
By TERRI SANGINITI – Staff reporter
02/27/2003A procession of 32 police dogs and their handlers filed into the Riverfront Arts Center on Wednesday for a ceremony honoring Wilmington K-9 Piete, who died last week from injuries received in the line of duty. In December, Officer Donald Witte and the 6-year-old Belgian Malinois were tracking two armed robbers into a heavily wooded area. A piece of wood became imbedded in the dog’s nose, causing an infection, K-9 commander Lt. Carolyn Henry said. After being injected with dye at Veterinarian Imaging in Ambler, Pa., while undergoing an MRI to locate the foreign object, the dog went into cardiac arrest and died Feb. 19. Wilmington police officials said Piete’s death is the first line-of-duty dog death since the unit was formed in 1997. Piete was one of the unit’s first trained police canines and had served for five years, spokesman Cpl. Stephen Martelli said. Piete’s memorial ceremony was replete with a police honor guard; bag pipes; chaplain’s prayers; taps; and tears and accolades from fellow officers. The 11 a.m. ceremony attracted police and city officials, retired police officers and K-9 law-enforcement representatives from 18 agencies throughout Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, including nine dogs from New Castle County Police Department’s unit. There were fond recollections of the way Piete used to run sideways when chasing someone, or how he used to bark louder than his handler spoke over police radio. Witte, who got Piete in 1997 when the dog was 16 months old and trained him, sat at the side of the stage with his family. “I know dogs become a part of the family and actually adopt us,” Wilmington Mayor James M. Baker said. “For the citizens of Wilmington, this is a tragedy for all of us.” Baker bestowed the city’s highest award, the Wilmington Award, on the dog. Applause after each speaker triggered barks and yelps from the nearly three dozen K-9 dogs lined up at attention around the room for the hour-long service. Public Safety Director James Mosley presented Witte with a City Council proclamation citing Piete’s five years of achievement as a vital part of the city’s K-9 crimefighting team. Wilmington police Chief Michael Szczerba ended the service by retiring Piete’s K-9 number 3 from the police roster over police radio. “Memorials can be found in many places and at many times, but principally in our hearts,” Szczerba said. Master Cpl. Dennis O’Connor, K-9 unit trainer, said afterward that Witte and his family want to get another dog. “In the meantime, I want to get the best dog out there for Donnie,” O’Connor said. “Donnie as a police officer is probably one of the best out there.”

K-9 Jeff will be new partner for Donnie