POLICE KILL K-9 DURING RAID

Members of the Arkansas State Police are mourning the loss of one of their
own. His name was Trooper Charlie.

Trooper Charlie, a large brown and black German shepherd, was shot Monday
morning by a member of the Conway Police Department SWAT team during a drug
raid.

The incident is under investigation and the name of the officer who shot
the dog is not being released. Officials are releasing little information
on the shooting.

Charlie had been with the State Police for "four or five years," according
to Cpl. Karl Byrd, canine coordinator for the ASP.

The dog's death "bothers a lot of the people in the department," Byrd said.
"We've lost a very good dog."

Byrd was one of the first handlers with the ASP and, while he never handled
Charlie, the dog was kept at headquarters with him while Charlie was
between handlers.

"My whole family would come down (after hours) and play ball with him. (The
dog's death) almost killed my wife," Byrd said.

He added that dogs become "one of the family" with their handlers and when
his dog retired it became a house pet of the family.

"To the handler, it's a true partner," he added.

Charlie had been working in the area since he completed SWAT training this
winter. He has been with Trooper Bobby Brown since that time.

Conway Police Lt. Bob Berry thinks this was the first time the dog has
worked with SWAT members in Conway, although the dog has been working with
the Narcotics Division for a month or two.

The Conway Regional Task Force, the Conway SWAT team, the Faulkner County
Sheriff's Office and the State Police cooperated in the search of the
residence at 21 Gail Lane.

Berry did not know exactly how many officers were at the residence, but
estimated "at least 20."

According to Byrd, "there had been information received that the place ...
did have a dog."

While Byrd would not elaborate, he said Charlie was wearing a handler's
collar. He would not say if the dog was wearing a badge or other
identifying materials.

"Sometimes things can get hectic," Byrd said of searches.

"But ... to lose something that important in a mistake, is a real tragedy."

Charlie's monetary value was estimated at $8,000. He was trained in
narcotics detection, SWAT, tracking and handler protection.

Conway Police Chief Jerry Snowden said the preliminary investigation shows
the dog was "a little aggressive" toward the officers.

Byrd said part of Charlie's training includes obedience and he knows of no
reports of previous problems with the dog.

The search took place about 9:30 a.m. Monday at the residence south of
Conway near Lawrence Landing.

Lillie Mae Piggee, 39, was arrested and charged with maintaining a drug
premise, possession (of crack cocaine) with intent to deliver, endangering
the welfare of a minor and possession of drug paraphernalia. Bond was set
at $28,575.

The investigation into the shooting will begin with all officers present
turning in written reports, and then the Conway Police Department will
conduct an internal investigation, according to Berry.

He could not estimate how long the investigation would take.

Snowden, who was a K-9 handler for approximately five years, called the
incident "very unfortunate. ... I know what the guy (Brown) is going
through. It's just like losing a partner."

Trooper Charlie is the second police dog in the area to die this year. The
other dog, Sam, was a Quitman Police Department canine and was found shot
to death in January. The Quitman City Council approved a $2,500 reward
Monday night for information into the death of the animal.