Thursday, March 28, 2024

Black Lab donated to Newport News Police in honor of Officer Katie Thyne

MPO Brittany Lewis is pictured with Fenway, a 10-month-old black lab, who was recently donated to the Newport News Police Department’s K-9 Unit in honor of fallen officer, Katie Thyne. (WYDaily/ Courtesy of American K-9 Interdiction, LLC)

The Newport News Police Department will have a new member and a furry one at that.

American K-9 Interdiction LLC donated a 10-month-old black Lab in honor of Officer Katie Thyne.

The Navy reservist was 24 when she was killed during a traffic stop on Jan. 23. Thyne left behind her 2-year-old daughter, Raegan and her partner, MPO Brittany Lewis.

In the months following her death, the Newport News Police Foundation created a memorial fund to benefit Thyne’s daughter and other community organizations such as Pine Meadow Veterinary Hospital collected donations to Thyne’s account.

Thyne loved animals and even participated in the NNPD’s initiative with the Peninsula Regional Animal Shelter called “Tail Wagging Tuesdays.”

“Knowing that Officer Thyne was a huge Boston Red Sox fan, it’s only fitting that the dog be named Fenway!” according to news release from the NNPD.

After Fenway is trained, the dog will serve as a Narcotics Detection dog in the department’s K-9 Unit. Lewis, who served in the department’s Recruiting Division, will be Fenway’s new partner.

“We are very thankful to American K-9 Interdiction, LLC for wanting to honor Officer Thyne’s service and sacrifice by donating K-9 Fenway to the Newport News Police K-9 Unit,” Chief Steve Drew said in a prepared statement. “We are excited to see MPO Lewis and her new partner, K-9 Fenway serve the citizens of Newport News.”

Lewis along with eight other police officers tried out for two K-9 positions. Master Police Officer Wilbur O’Berry from the department’s Training Division got the second slot.

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