Was funeral motorcade for slain K-9 officer excessive?

[Rampant Rabbit]

Okay, here's the deal.....
The thread question is, whether the funeral motorcade was excessive.... The answer is.... NO......
And there is no other answer, because those who participated wanted to participate. And fact of the matter is how no internet clown has any say on who is or who isn't to take part at whatever funeral it is. For fucks sake, if 5000 ppl turn up to bury a hamster, it's those 5000 ppls business, and not anyone else.

Now for the animal put to rest....
It's sad to hear how he lost his life while on duty. But as police officer he has the right to be honored by his peers, and apparently he was that popular within the police, or else they wouldn't have given him that kind of attention.
Now one can have a problem with canines to be in rank and honor of men... But that's then that persons own problem, because that's nothing new. Canines serve as soldiers, as cops, as rescue personnel for hundreds of years already. In that regard I have to say, welcome to reality, welcome to life how it always was.
And if what I said now is something that's new to one. Then I am comfortable to say how this one animal there, done and achieved more in his short life than the person that cannot grasp the concept of duty, accomplishment, honor and service to humankind.

All in all, the animal deserved every car in the motorcade, every single person attending the funeral. He saved various peoples life before, and for as long until one here beats that achievement, one has simply no qualification to speak up about it at all.

TLDR: Before you piss on others, go out and accomplish something yourself first, then come back again.

Fuck yeah! A non-bitter person!

[Crissi]

There's always something worse. It doesn't excuse the bad usage however.

Maybe the community that pays the taxes didnt think it was a waste?

[Wilian]

Maybe the community that pays the taxes didnt think it was a waste?

Then the community could've arranged fundraiser to pay their respect, as I mentioned.

[inboundpaper]

Totally worth it.

[Reeve]

Funerals are not for the living, they're for the remembrance of the deceased. You know, to remember what legacy the left.

For living people to remember the dead. For the living people. The dead couldn't care less, literally, because they're dead and physically incapable of caring. Funerals are ENTIRELY for the living.

[Barbara Snow]

"A funeral that drew more than 1,000 people in Pittsburgh for a slain police dog has sparked a debate among some residents over whether the city went too far in its soldierlike salute to the animal.

Friday's 45-minute memorial for Rocco, an 8-year-old German shepherd K-9 officer who was fatally stabbed while trying to apprehend a fugitive, featured a motorcade, bagpipers, barking canines and a procession of officers holding Rocco's photo, urn and a flag."

What do you think? I love dogs and I admire the sentiment, but financially this seems kind of ridiculous.[/QUOTE]


Was the memorial service for K-9 Rocco 'ridiculous' as said above or as a reporter asked 'excessive'??? I think not - rather than look at what it 'cost', let’s look at what Rocco saved us and you will see it is much much more . But then I don't how to place a value on the lives of three police officers. Here is what we can measure - the cost of replacement. - Well your Steelers QB, Big Ben, is donating the cost from his foundation - Thank you Mr. Ben. Citizens are donating to the K-9 program now from their support of Rocco’s story and his service. Then there’s his pay, for keeping the citizens of Pittsburgh safe and secure for years - a treat a toy and a 'good boy' - There’s more saving in Officer Time and Overtime, Workers Comp, Vehicle Search Time- Building Search Time. The officers may take hours to search a building – Rocco could tell if the suspect was in the building without having to search all thru it just by entering the building with a sniff. When a bad guy on the run got nervous and started to sweat – he became ONSTAR to Rocco and easier to get. Time is saved in Finding and Apprehending suspects and they surrendered faster – when Rocco was present – and less harm comes to the officers and the offender. The bad guys couldn't outrun Rocco and Rocco, always focused and intensive, would never give up. Homicides are solved and murderers are convicted and families receive closure when K-9s find bodies. School lockers didn't have to be opened for Rocco in drug searches. And property inside didn't have to be handled when K9 Rocco walked past. K9 Dogs can find explosives and bomb threats; and they can be disabled faster than without the dogs. They find prison escapees before they get desperate and prey on more victims, and they find missing children and Dementia and Alzheimer’s patients before harm comes to them. Rocco removed drugs off the streets that teenagers could overdose on and now they are alive as adults and living productive lives. Rocco found missing children who are alive and will grow up to remember his name and K-9s contribute to crime prevention as well as solving the crimes. They protect and save our officers lives equal to the way Secret Service protects our President. They will take a bullet, jump in front of a knife as Rocco did or other weapon meant for officers, deputies, troopers, and even vehicles meant to run them over. Pittsburgh is safer for all that Rocco did and all the other K-9s do. Gen Petraeus said back in 2008 of the K9s and MWDs. "The capability they bring to the fight (against our enemies and criminals) cannot be replicated by man or machine. We would be remiss if we failed to invest more in this incredible valuable resource" They provide security at courthouses , county and city buildings, schools, and universities , at stadiums and public events and protection to visiting VIPs too. And once we purchase and train and equip them their cost is so little for an average of the eight years they serve us– just their food and vet bills. And they even continue on in retirement protecting the home and life of officers and their families. They don’t need night vision equipment and guns or tasers and cell phones or most tactical equipment we provide to the officers.
Vests to protect them from harm and vehicle restraint to protect them from vehicle ejection can come from donations to the
K-9 programs or budgeted for at less cost then what the save us. Truly they are the best bang we get for a public safety dollar from a taxpayer. So please replace the ‘E’ word with Honor and Memory and our duty to give them their due. I compliment your acting Chief, Commander, Mayor and all for setting the bar in how to memorialize a hero with Paws - I believe they did it also for the public who needed to share in the story of Rocco’s valiant fight for his life and follow through with his memorial service and grieve with the PD and support his family and attend the service - they knew Pittsburgh was honoring an American and Pennsylvania Hero. And in our current war against crime we also have a war on terror and these same dogs are the number one savior of the number one killer of our soldiers - IEDs Improvised explosive devices – These K9 heroes deserve all they need to do their job safely in equipment and supplies and when they retire they deserve veterinary benefits – Lets due more to honor Rocco’s legacy and ask for a bill in Pennsylvania to give them veterinary benefits in retirement to help them live out their few remaining retirement years in good health; And let’s give them our Honor and Memory, Awareness of their service and Appreciation for their performances. And that can never be ‘excessive’

So the Question remains: Why honor Rocco as a Hero and Fallen Officer - ??? I Answer to Rocco...and speak respectfully for his handler .
We must give you Honor
For you are one too.
There's no honor for me,
If there is none for you.
‘Til death us do part,
This K-9 Mantra rings True.
K-9 Rocco gave his all
For the Red White and Blue

barbara Snow US WAR DOGS ASSN Bronson FL 32621
True heroes by barbara snow

When I think of a True HERO, I think of the best
Those that wear the bullet proof vest
They endure smoke, danger, fire and flame
They have police, fire or sheriff in their title and name
They are our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marine
And not the athletes on our favorite sport team

Those we can admire for their achievements and skill
But their job doesn’t require them to die or to kill
There’s entertainment and magic in how they move a ball
But they don’t save our lives or answer our emergency call

True heroes care for others before their own need
They work at high risk without personal greed
We don’t pay them millions; when it’s what they deserve
When we count all their sacrifices and many ways they serve

They protect our flag, borders and prisons and our wildlife too
Our families and pets are safer because of what they do
And many have partners who serve them not by hand but by paw
A double hero status protecting our freedom and law

They deserve so much more, in respect and in pay
And lifetime veterinary benefits for their partners who
“Faithfully, Lead the Way”

Their bond never broken; bad guys and enemies beware
We have more peace and sleep better because they are there
Let’s give them honor and appreciation and value what they do
Reserve the pedestal for them – our Heroes so true.
by Barbara snow

[Spectral]

Then they went home and ate cows, pigs, and chickens for dinner. People are silly.

Whether it's "worth it" is kind subjective. I guess if over a thousand people liked it, it's worth it by any utilitarian ethical thinking though, which is good enough for me.

[Mormolyce]

It wasn't too far if a thousand people got comfort from it. Funerals are about the living, not the dead.

Good point.

Probably made a bigger impact than human ones generally do.