Page 46 - WEB 2017 Annual Report_Float

STARK’S ROAD TO RECOVERY
MICHAEL ZAUGG & CHASE | Patrol K9 Team
2017 most memorable capture:
“Deputies serving the City of Cornelius had a pursuit with
a wanted suspect. The suspect drove down a dead end
road and eventually ran on foot. My brother, Cory Zaugg,
who was a K9 handler for the Hillsboro Police Department,
was also working that night and started the track with his
late dog, “Billy”.
“Cory and Billy tracked the suspect over fences, through
large properties, and to a creek too deep to cross. My
brother requested a second K9 to assist with the search
and I was paged off duty to come in.
“Chase and I picked up the search on the other side of the
creek. We worked our way across a large property and
ended up finding the suspect hiding about 20 feet up in
a tree. The suspect was in and out of consciousness from
hypothermia and suspected drug use. He had most likely
been up in the tree for at least an hour or two. Firefighters
responded to help retrieve him out of the tree with their
ladders. It is not every day Chase and I locate someone
up a tree, and it was even cooler to work a capture with
my brother. “
43 | WCSO Patrol Division
K9 Stark has worked tirelessly to become the best working dog he can
be. With 160 lifetime captures, Stark and his partner, Cpl. Akin have
the most captures of any dog/handler team in WCSO’s history. Stark
has been described as “high drive” and many have noted, “he just
doesn’t quit”. He truly loves his job and comes to work each day ready
to protect his partner, help keep other law enforcement officers safe,
detect narcotics, serve his community and capture criminals, as well as
help locate missing Alzheimer’s or suicidal patients.
All of that hard work has taken its toll on his body. In 2017, Cpl. Akin
noticed Stark had a slight limp and wasn’t approaching some physical
activities with the same gusto as before. After a physical evaluation by
a veterinary surgical specialist, tears in the ligaments in both of Stark’s
back knees were discovered. Stark underwent surgery in the fall to
repair his injuries and provide him a greater quality of life. After 10
weeks of recovery and physical therapy, Stark happily returned to the
road and has been doing what he loves and does best.
When Stark is not working he is truly a part of the Akin family. He
enjoys spending time with the family, including their Labrador, and
joins them on many adventures including camping, time at the beach
and hunting trips.
WCSO 2017 Annual Report | 44