Coralville Police Department’s first K-9 officer ‘Ivan’ remembered

CORALVILLE - About two years ago, Ivan, the Coralville Police Department's first K-9 officer, was diagnosed with cancer.

Ivan's veterinarians gave the Belgian Malinois - who was partnered with officer Chad Bender for his entire career - about four months to live. But, for the next four months and for months after that, Ivan refused to give in, Coralville Police Chief Shane Kron said Friday.

'He went for two years,” Kron said. 'He was really very active. I know there were a couple of moments Chad thought we were getting near the end. He would just kind of come back. He would seem to get over it and he'd be running around. Chad would say, ‘I think we're OK.' ”

On Wednesday, Ivan and Bender went to work together one last time.

'That dog loved to go to work,” Kron said. 'He did what he loved to do.”

That same day, Bender took Ivan to a veterinarian in Cedar Rapids and Ivan was put to sleep. Later on Wednesday, the police department had a ceremony at Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service in Coralville. An American flag was draped over Ivan's body.

'They did a nice job of honoring the dog who served for 10 years,” Kron said. 'He did his job.”

Ivan was the Coralville Police Department's first K-9 officer. He came from Mid-Michigan Kennels in Eaton Rapids, Michigan, and was trained in patrol and narcotics detection. Kron said Ivan and Bender helped the department seize heroin, ecstasy, cocaine, marijuana and methamphetamine.

Ivan was responsible for 19 apprehensions, but Kron said he can't remember a single time the dog had to bite a suspect.

'Every time I can ever think of using the dog, the person gave up because we had the dog,” Kron said. 'A guy came out of a ceiling when we said come out or we're going to put the dog up there and he's going to find you and bite you. As soon as we said that, the guy said, ‘I'm coming out.' ”

Ivan also was a valuable public relations resource for the department, Kron said. Kron would bring the dog to Junior Achievement classes, which was always a highlight for the participants.

'The public loves Ivan,” he said. 'When he shows up, cops might as well go sit in their cars because Ivan was the center of attention. He was good with people. I think he really understood his purpose.”

But Ivan's first duty was to protect members of the department, Kron said. And Ivan served that purpose well, he said.

'Everybody on this department has an appreciation for and can name times the dog has gone into a building or gone somewhere so we didn't have to risk an officer going in there,” Kron said. 'I don't think anybody isn't appreciative of what Ivan did over 10 years.”

Kron said the department will immediately move to find Ivan's replacement. But Ivan won't soon be forgotten. Kron said the department plans to have a tree planted in Ivan's honor.

'It will always be Ivan's tree,” he said.

l Comments: (319) 398-8238; lee.hermiston@thegazette.com