Date of Birth: 5/5/2003
Dates of Service: 2/16/2005 – 2/7/2015
End of Watch: 7/1/2016
Breed: Belgian Malinois
Partner: Ofc. Jim Donnell
K9 Johnny was the second working dog acquired by Capital K9s for the City of Madison Police Department. Johnny is one of four dogs graciously sponsored over the years by Mid-West Family Broadcasting. Johnny and the first K9, “Greg” (who will be featured in another post), were named after disc jockeys Johnny Danger and Greg Bair, of Mid-West’s WJJO (94.1 FM) Solid Rock radio station.
Johnny worked with MPD Patrol Officer Jim Donnell. One of Donnell’s favorite memories of service occurred in their first weeks on the job, in February of 2005. Johnny’s tracking skills allowed the duo quickly locate an elderly woman who wandered away from her home dressed in clothing not suitable for a cold Wisconsin winter day. Before Johnny arrived on the scene to assist, the woman evaded human officers’ search efforts for over 90 minutes. After sniffing the woman’s pillow-case, Johnny tracked to the woman’s location just in time – after only three minutes of tracking. Had they not located her when they did, she would have likely died of hypothermia.
In October of 2012, Johnny helped Donnell earn a “K9 Handler of the Year” award from the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Canine Handlers’ Association.
Toward the end of Johnny’s nearly-ten-year career with the City of Madison, Donnell began training his second K9, Krahnie. Johnny served as Krahnie’s on-the-job “mentor” for about a year before working his last shift. From there, Johnny retired to a peaceful life at home with Donnell.
Johnny is fondly remembered by Donnell as a loyal companion and eternal guardian.
Special thanks to the Stoughton Veterinary Service for providing Johnny’s primary veterinary care.
Read more about Johnny in a previously-posted tribute to Johnny written by Donnell.
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