Concord PD's K-9 Memorial Gets Refurbished

Thanks to donations from private citizens, the grout and tile work of the K-9 memorial in front of the Concord Police Department headquarters was recently updated and refurbished.

See the before and after photos to the right.

Here is the story behind the memorial, told by the Concord Police Canine Association:

In the Spring and Summer of 2005, local Boy Scout Andy Farrell approached the Concord Police Canine Association with an idea to help achieve his goal of Eagle Scout. Andy had an interest in police dogs and asked the Canine Association for project ideas. During this process it was decided that Andy would help to develop a K9 Memorial wall, dedicated to the past and current working Police K9’s of the City of Concord.

Current and former K9 handlers conducted the preliminary research and ultimately got the approval from the Canine Association and the Concord City Council to have a memorial wall built in the front lot of the Concord Police Headquarters. The cost of this project was approximately $5000, which was paid for by donations from the Canine Association, the Concord Police Officers Association, and private citizens and businesses.

With the help of his fellow Boy Scouts, Andy provided most of the labor to build the memorial. Specialized engraving work was completed by Serenity Headstones in Pittsburg. The project was completed in December of 2005, which coincided with the 40 year anniversary of the Concord Police K9 Unit. The memorial was later dedicated by city officials in the Summer of 2006.

Between 2006-2011, the Canine Association received enough donations from private citizens to update seven pre-existing names to the wall for retired K9’s, add the names of eight new K9’s that joined the Concord family during that time, and completely refurbished the tile and grout work to the memorial. In January of 2012 this project was completed.

The Concord Police Canine Association is currently comprised of six K9 teams. All of our K9’s are “cross-trained” to provide protection and drug detection for the Officers and Citizens of the City of Concord. Over the past 50 years our four-legged partners have helped to arrest thousands of suspects and recover millions of dollars in illegal drugs and drug money.

Each year the Concord Police Canine Association financially assists with providing training equipment and paying for medical expenses and the memorial upkeep for our retired K9’s. The goal of our Association is to continue to build our fund so that we can continue to assist our current K9’s, as well as to remember all our K9 partners who have served our community in the past. If you would like to donate to the Concord Police Canine Association, please contact either K9 Handler Ollie Sansen or K9 Handler Matt Switzer at (925) 671-3220.

We would like to thank Andy Farrell for his original work and dedication, as well as the community for your continued support!

Concord Police Canine Association

“Excellence Since 1965”