Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
CENTERVILLE — Police are mourning the death of a former K-9 officer who was once paired with a Centerville officer who died after a motorcycle crash last year.
Joker was a K-9 officer with Centerville police who was handled by officer Jason Read beginning in 2013. In a Facebook post Wednesday morning, Centerville police wrote Read and Joker were “responsible for making several drug seizures” in Centerville. They also made appearances at school and community events throughout the city before Joker was retired due to health issues.
He was then taken in by the Read family after he was retired by the force. Police wrote Joker “enjoyed the retirement life of long naps and being well taken care of.”
Read died in October 2018 from complications after an off-duty motorcycle crash in Syracuse in September that year. Centerville Police Lt. Zan Robison said back then that Read left behind a wife and three children.
He added Read “was a dedicated officer to the community and the people that he served.”
Wednesday’s Facebook post garnered support from the community. One person responded: “Such sad (news) 😞 but the reunion in heaven was sweet. Partners again.”
