In Memory...a FWPD Hero 2017 American Humane Hero Dog Award On April 15, 2016, the Fort Worth Police Department was dispatched on a missing endangered male call. Two elderly men visited a large salvage yard when one suddenly realized that his elderly friend with Alzheimer’s was missing. After a brief search, he realized he needed help and called police. Many officers responded due to the age and medical condition of the missing man. After an extensive search, Sergeant Medrano asked Officer Brock if Luca would be of any help. Luca is Officer Brock’s retired Search and Rescue (SAR) German Shepherd who was 10 years old at the time of this call. Luca excelled in area, water, avalanche and forest/desert searches. Officer Brock picked Luca up from his home, and Luca fell back into his training and used his SAR skills to search for the missing man. Luca alerted to an opening of brush at the Trinity River which led to a very steep hill followed by a steep drop off. Due to terrain, a PD helicopter responded and immediately observed the lost man in the river, stuck in waist high mud on the opposite bank of the river where Luca alerted. Officers shed their gear, swam across the river, rescued the man and brought him to safety. Had Luca not tracked the man’s trail and located him, the man would have drowned in the river which still had very cold, high, fast paced water or would have succumbed to the temperature. Luca’s love and dedication to SAR shows the resilience of older dogs and how training doesn’t go away just because they retire. Due to his valiant effort, Luca won the 2017 American Humane Hero Dog Award—Search and Rescue Category. Officer Brock and Luca traveled to Hollywood to receive the award in September. Sadly, Luca passed away about a month later. Officer Brock shared this message: I once heard that the best thing about having a dog is the unconditional love they exhibit alongside the everlasting dog smile and the 'puppy dog eyes,' which radiate their personality; however, I also heard the worst thing about having a dog is the final goodbye. There is no easy way to say goodbye, and realizing that the time is imminent is even worse. Luca was sadly diagnosed with Degenerative Myelopathy a few years back, but despite the diagnosis being known to have a grim ending, he never let it stop him from living a happy, full life of helping others. Luca’s life was less than ordinary, and he did incredible things thanks to incredible people being a part of his life and believing in him.
To all of you, my most heartfelt and sincerest thanks. I can’t find the words to express my gratitude enough, and I am forever humbled by all the love and support you all gave for Luca...
Despite this being the end, please know Luca wasn’t in any pain and he didn’t suffer. It was very sudden and up 'til his last breath, his personality that defined him still shined strong through his definitive 'puppy dog' eyes and that class smile of his. - Officer Cole Brock
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