[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 168 (Tuesday, October 25, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1083]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING COCOA POLICE DEPARTMENT'S K-9 BEAR FOR HIS YEARS OF BRAVE 
                 SERVICE TO RESIDENTS OF COCOA, FLORIDA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BILL POSEY

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 25, 2022

  Mr. POSEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the retirement 
and brave service of K-9 Bear to the Cocoa Police Department and to our 
Congressional District. K-9 Bear, the 9-year-old German Shepherd, not 
only fulfilled his duty to protect his partner, K-9 Officer Dan 
Rhoades, but protected his community for more than eight years.
  K-9 Bear started in 2014 working as a dual-certified patrol K-9 at 
the Cocoa Police Department. There he underwent comprehensive trainings 
in everything from tracking fleeing suspects to locating missing 
persons, as well as finding illegal drugs and other evidence in 
criminal cases. K-9 Bear also served alongside the elite Cocoa Police 
Department's SWAT team.
  During his career, K-9 Bear worked to recover illegal drugs, taking 
them off the streets, keeping our families and neighborhoods safe. Many 
say fleeing suspects gave up the fight at just the sound of K-9 Bear's 
ferocious bawl. K-9 Bear and K-9 Officer Dan Rhoades' close 
relationship produced results, and K-9 Bear's exemplary skills and 
dedication proved to be a valuable asset to the department and the 
community.
  America's Top Dog, on A&E Network, a show where the most elite police 
K-9 teams compete, even highlighted K-9 Bear and Officer Rhoades' 
special partnership. Team Bear, demonstrating their most excellent 
skills, won the competition and brought home a $10,000 prize to donate 
to the Cocoa High Athletics Department for an improvement project. 
Because of K-9 Bear's efforts, America's Top Dog made an additional 
$5,000 donation to the charity of their choice, the Space Coast K-9 
Competition, presented by the Cocoa Police Department in partnership 
with Space Coast Police K-9 Foundation.
  K-9 Bear was not just a tool to help his human police officer. K-9 
Bear was, and will always be, a loyal friend. Today we celebrate K-9 
Bear's tenure at the Cocoa Police Department and commend him for always 
doing his duty to protect our community. I urge my colleagues to join 
me as we wish K-9 Bear well in retirement.

                          ____________________