Retired KPD K-9 passes

QUINTO

Retired Kilgore Police Department K-9 Quinto died Wednesday due to failing health, according to officer David Falco. Quinto was 13 years old.

Falco said he handled Quinto when he was the K-9 Officer at the Kilgore Police Department.

Falco is now the National Narcotics Detector Dog Association Board Member for KPD.

Falco described Quinto as a dual-purpose police service dog. He served the Kilgore Police Department from July 1996 to June 2004. Quinto maintained narcotics and patrol certifications through the NNDDA. Quinto was responsible for countless arrests for narcotics stemming from seizures of hundreds of pounds of marijuana and kilos of cocaine as well as arrests resulting from successful tracks, not only for KPD, but surrounding agencies.

Falco said K-9 Quinto placed third at the NNDDA Nationals in 1998, fifth in 2001 and seventh in 2002. In 2002 K-9 Quinto was also awarded the Max Von Stephanitz Award for Best German Shepherd in competition. In 2005, Quinto was awarded the Meritorious Achievement Award by the NNDDA for his accomplishments as a Police Service Dog.

Falco said Quinto will be greatly missed by himself and all who knew him.

K-9 Quinto was born in Holland on September 14, 1994 and died April 9.