Williamstown's Beloved K9 Blue Dies at Age 12| 01:51PM / Wednesday, August 31, 2016 | |
Blue and Officer Ziemba at Sweet Brook in 2009.
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Police Department's first K-9, the beloved Blue, died recently in her sleep at the age of 12.
Blue had retired two years ago after a decade of searches, community events and celebrity status.
She joined the force in 2005 with her longtime partner and owner, Officer Michael Ziemba. Outfitted with badge and Kevlar vest, she assisted in numerous rescues and searches and was certified with the American Police Working Dogs in tracking and trailing.
Blue was well known to citizens and criminals alike throughout Northern Berkshire. Several years ago, Ziemba recalled how she'd tracked down a man who'd fled after crashing his truck.
When she found him, he cried out, "Don't bite me Blue, don't bite me," said Ziemba. "Even the bad guys know who she is."
Her forte was finding, not biting. The friendly hound visited nursing homes and classrooms, and took her place at parades and community events.
Blue was donated to the department by a breeder who had contributed several hounds a year to law enforcement: two of her siblings worked with state police agencies, a brother in Arizona and a sister in Georgia.
She did have a scare in 2008, when she managed to escape her kennel at Ziemba's home and was hit by a car. Two young women stopped when they saw her sitting in snowbank. She limped over to them and was taken to Greylock Animal Hospital. She ended up at Tufts University in North Grafton with internal bleeding and a dislocated hip.
Blue recovered and returned to her duties.
In 2011, a photo of her in the driver's seat of Ziemba's specialized cruiser was selected as Canine Cop of the Year for April by the National Museum of Crime and Punishment, the national Humane Society and the Washington, D.C., Humane Society. It also appeared in the U.S. Humane Society's 2012 Canine Cop calendar.
She and Ziemba also marched in the Independence Day parade in Washington.
The Williamstown Police Department announced her passing on its Facebook page on Tuesday.
"Blue retired in 2014 and thoroughly enjoyed this new assignment, although she still loved to make guest appearances at community events. Blue was an exceptional tracker and an even better friend, colleague and partner. Rest in Peace friend; it has been an honor to have you in our lives."
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