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News / Events
Brutus, Geauga County police dog featured in Regina Brett's column, dies
March 08, 2010, 7:00PM
Thomas Ondrey / The Plain Dealer/ Retired Geauga County Sheriff's Lt. Tom McCaffrey, pictured at home in Montville Township in late January with Brutus, says the police dog was fearless. Brutus died Monday.They say all dogs go to heaven. If that's true, Brutus is guarding the Pearly Gates.
A retired police dog for the Geauga County Sheriff's Department, Brutus passed away Monday morning. He woke his owner, Lt. Tom McCaffrey, one last time at 2:30 a.m.
The dog ran outside, came back and collapsed in the living room. Brutus knew he was dying. Tom could tell by the look in the German shepherd's eyes that he was scared.
Brutus died with his head in McCaffrey's lap.
Brutus, who was featured in a Plain Dealer column on Jan. 31, was 10. Retired from the K-9 cops two years ago, he was a fearless 125 pounds of solid muscle, according to McCaffrey.
After the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, Brutus sniffed for remains in the rubble of the World Trade Center towers.
He spent his last days riding in the back of McCaffrey's red pickup where everyone in Montville Township -- all 2,300 of them - knew Brutus.
"I lost an excellent companion," McCaffrey said.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: rbrett@plaind.com, 216-999-6328
TWO OF GEAUGA COUNTIES FINEST DEPUTIES RETIRE
DEPUTY VICTOR TOMARO,
DEPUTY TOMARO HAD 20.7 YEARS OF FAITHFUL AND DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE GEAUGA COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE. DURING HIS TENURE HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION AS A ROAD PATROL DEPUTY. HE OFTEN SERVED AS THE OFFICER IN CHARGE OF THE SHIFT, DURING THE ABSENCE OF THE PLATOON SERGEANT. HE RECEIVED INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATIONS IN A VARIETY OF PATROL TOPICS AND PASSED HIS KNOWLEDGE ALONG BY CONDUCTING IN HOUSE TRAINING SESSIONS FOR CO WORKERS, AND OFFICERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SHERIFFS OFFICE ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANKS FOR A JOB WELL DONE.
DEPUTY CHESTON McNABB
DEPUTY McNABB HAD 16.5 YEARS OF HONORABLE SERVICE TO THE GEAUGA COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE. DURING HIS YEARS HERE HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION AS A ROAD PATROL DEPUTY. HE WAS ALSO PART OF THE T.A.G NARCOTICS TASK FORCE. DURING THAT TIME HE INVESTIGATED AND SEIZED LARGE AMOUNTS OF MARIJUANA AND OTHER DRUGS. HE ALSO ASSISTED IN NUMEROUS ARRESTS OF SUSPECTS. HE SERVED AS THE COORDINATOR FOR THE EXPLORER /JR. POSSE UNIT. HE PROVIDED THE MEMBERS INSTRUCTION ON VARIOUS LAW ENFORCEMENT TOPICS AND SUPERVISED THEIR TIME AS THEY ASSISTED THE SHERIFFS OFFICE. DURING MANY YEARS AT THE GEAUGA COUNTY FAIR, DEPUTY McNABB COULD BE SEEN WORKING WITH THE EXPLORER UNIT. HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SHERIFFS OFFICE ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU FOR A JOB WELL DONE.
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