FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Melrose Police Department Mourns the Death of Retired K-9 Jony

MELROSE — Chief Michael L. Lyle regrets to inform the community that the Melrose Police Department’s K-9 Jony passed away suddenly over the holiday weekend.

A 9-year-old German Shepard, Jony was born in Gelnica, Slovakia, but arrived in the United States when he was 10 months old. He worked with the Melrose Police Department as part of its first ever and only K-9 program.

Members of the Melrose Police Department will wear black mourning bands this week and the flag outside the station sits at half-mast today in honor of Jony.

K-9 Jony was paired with Patrol Officer Joseph H. Donovan. Together, the two of them successfully tracked suspects and searched for narcotics in Melrose, Malden, Stoneham, Reading, Chelsea, Wakefield, Saugus, Somerville and Tewksbury.

In 2015, Jony retired from service after an eye infection developed in to an inoperable detached retina and cataract in his right eye, threatening his vision and the eye itself. He remained in the care of Officer Donovan and his family during his retirement.

“Jony was a beloved member of the Melrose Police Department and served us well over his eight years of dedicated service,” Chief Lyle said. “He retired after a stellar career and enjoyed his retirement with Officer Donovan. Jony will always be remembered and will certainly be missed throughout the Police Department and community.”

Officer Donovan and K-9 Jony developed their training skills through the Middlesex County Sheriff’s K-9 Academy. They further enhanced their skills through the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department K-9 program.

Over the course of his career, Jony assisted in locating at least nine wanted suspects and proved his worth in locating missing persons in Melrose and neighboring communities. He also demonstrated his skills during visits with seniors at the Milano Center, elementary schools and the Junior Police Academy.

Donations in memory of K-9 Jony, to be used to help pay for a new K-9 for Melrose Police Department, may be donated online at https://www.mavestadog.org/ws/pages/donate.php (choose General Fund, At “Department to Benefit” type in “Melrose PD” or you can send directly to Massachusetts Vest-a-Dog, Inc., PO BOX 48 Walpole MA  02081 (please write “Melrose PD” in memo of check). For more information, call 508-668-7149 or visit their website at www.mavestadog.org

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