Save Newport Real News in Newport Beach
Beloved police dog Elko– 9 years old but retired for the last few years– has crossed the rainbow bridge.
Elko was purchased for the NBPD through a $15,000 privately-raised grant by the Newport Harbor Elks Lodge (it’s the awesome one you see every time you cross the bridge to Balboa Peninsula– disclaimer: I’m an active member there)
The police were so appreciative of the donation, they literally re-named the dog from Boris to Elko, after the club.
Elko, a Belgian Malinois trained in the Dutch language, wound up displaying a spinal condition which ultimately caused his retirement in 2015 and led to his early final days, passing on March 28th.
As the most popular police officer on the force, Elko– trained to take down armed criminals– was always happy to receive bellyrubs and pettings from members of the public, too. Also, he never wrote anyone a parking ticket, so bonus points for him on that one.
As he departed, his handler Officer Roland Stucken– who he had lived with full-time along with his wife and two children– gave him his favorite toy to bite on, the arm-wrap used in training to take down suspects. As Elko bit down with a smile on his face with his partner by his side, he passed happily into the next life.
Sus brav, Elko, sus brav.
