Officer Iris -- partner and friend...

            Perhaps it is fitting that someone she protected and served told us about the death of Iris, the Police Officer.
            Our pal Della Wallace wrote, “This wonderful dog passed away. This is the saddest thing. Her name was Iris and she was the Little Elm Drug K9 until she recently retired.”
            How did Della the Realtor meet Iris the police dog?
            “They were having a fund-raiser in Little Elm to buy Iris an alarm for her police vehicle in case of overheating.  I went to that and fell in love. I don't know what it was about her, but she stole my heart.”
            Della says that Iris’ partner is Chris Ford, named Officer of the Year in 2006 by the Little Elm Chamber of Commerce.
            Iris also was an exemplary officer. She “took second place in the national competition her first time out and only missed 1st place by a few seconds,” Della says. “I knew her very well and she was a sweetheart to all but drug dealers and people she found with drugs on them.
“In her home life she was a pussycat, but let that girl work and watch out. She was very much loved and admired by all who knew her and will be very much missed.”
            The note was signed, “Tearfully, Della.”
            Della was not the only person touched by the dog she called “Officer Iris.” But some of those people are not available for a photograph unless you can get the warden’s permission. For all her good nature and sweet posing, Iris was a working officer, a Belgian Malinois who was a trained and determined drug dog.
            “I will miss her very much,” Officer Ford told Della. He and Iris weren’t just co-workers, they were partners and friends.|
             You don’t lose a friend and partner without feeling the kick in the heart.
            Officer Ford said that Iris had “some type of cancer causing her to bleed internally. She died peacefully with no pain while I was rubbing her head telling her it was OK to go and that I would be OK. As soon as I uttered these words, within 60 seconds, she passed away.”
            These decisions are never easy, but sometimes they are helped by the grace within the animal’s heart.
            “It was very moving and the way I wanted it,” Officer Ford said. “I didn’t want to come home from work and find her dead.... She helped and touched a lot of people during her career. She was an amazing partner and friend who accomplished things many police dogs never do during their lifetimes.”
            As you can see in the photographs, Officer Iris had many facets – she obviously loved being in her patrol car, enjoyed being with her partner and, of course, proudly posed with her medals and wore her badge with honor.
            She was 9 years old when disease stopped her -- it did what criminals couldn't do.
             Della notes that the “toothy” expression came during a demonstration at a county club and says “that pussycat could look really scary.”
            After Iris was gone, Officer Ford took her to Toothacres in Carrollton and, he said, “They did an amazing job with her – and me.”
            As you can see, on the box that holds Officer Iris’ ashes, there is a brass plate that reads “K-9 Iris Little Elm Police Department.”
            Beneath that is the inscription “E.O.W. August 29, 2011.”
             E.O.W.
            As Officer Ford explained to Della, it is “sacred law enforcement terminology used when an officer dies.”
            It means “End of Watch.”
            Officer Iris’ watch has ended, but you get the feeling that she is ever vigilant in the hearts of those she touched.
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Comments

[Chris Ford]

Thanks Larry. Very nice article.

Chris Ford

[Officer Cris Coner #123 LEPD]

Both Iris & Officer Ford were such an exquiste team and I am proud to have served with both. I have trained with you & you even found the suspect that had fled on foot for me.

Iris you will always have a "Special place in my heart", for you are the Greatest Police K-9 !

Thank you Officer Ford & Iris for your commitment & service.

[Dianne]

What a wonderful tribute to a beautiful soul. Condolences to Officer Ford. RIP, Officer Iris. I know you will be missed.

[Officer Damon Cole #9455, Dallas PD]

Chris,
I am really heart broken by the passing of Iris. I have been a police officer for 12 years now and you and Iris were the BEST K-9 unit I have ever had the pleasure of working with. Iris was a wonderful police dog and a great partner. Iris will really be missed and my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

[Bekki and Brian Harvey]

Our sincere condolences to Officer Ford. A K9 partner is the best partner a police officer could ever have bar none. God Bless all K9 officers!