Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

K-9 Baron, I rode in the LEU Ruff Ride in your honor. Thanks for being the best dog you could be. I am sure you will meet all of us at the gate someday. Look for Oakley at the bridge.
Thank you for your service.

SA Ellen Pierson
DHS-ICE-HSI

May 21, 2015

Notice of War Dog Medal Presentation

K-9 Baron

Friday, March 6, 2015 at 2:30 PM
At The K-9 Memorial in front of
The St Johns County Sheriff’s Office

4015 Lewis Speedway, St Augustine, FL 32084


The U.S. War Dogs Assn, Chapter 2, will have the Honor of presenting Deputy Farrah Ashe with a WAR DOG Medal for her former partner K-9 Baron who died in the Line of Duty (LODD) October 7, 2014. K-9 Baron was criminally drowned by a fleeing felon on October 7, 2014. K-9 Baron had served with the St. John's County Sheriff's Office for 1-1/2 years and conducted tracking and apprehension missions. He was only 2 years old.
Hundreds of people mourned his loss and attended his memorial service and gave their community support to Deputy Ashe and St John Sheriff’s Office team. A portrait of Baron now hangs in the Sheriff’s Office.
While the War Dog medal was originally limited to Military War Dogs that served in combat, the Board of Directors has expanded the criteria to law enforcement dogs who die in the line of duty from criminal action and/or who save the life of their handlers. K-9 Baron has earned this Honor and is deserving of the medal for giving the ultimate sacrifice.
The public is invited to attend the ceremony giving Honor and Memory to K-9 Baron, a true American and Florida Hero. We thank K-9 Baron for his service in keeping the citizens of St John County safe and secure to go about their lives in freedom. May he now Rest and Play in Peace - always missed and never forgotten.

Contact: Kevin Kelshaw Barbara Snow Exec Dir.
Media Relations Officer US WAR DOGS ASSN Southern Chapter 2

BArbara Snow Exec Dir
US WAR DOGS ASSN Chap 2 Southern Bronson FL

March 3, 2015

K/9 Baron thank you for your dedicated service to the citizens of St. Johns County, Florida. May you rest in peace. I know that you are waiting on the other side to greet your handler.
John 3:16

Former Sgt. Joe Covington M/C #4926
Corpus Christi Police Department

November 23, 2014

God bless you Baron, thank you for your service. Rest in peace and my thoughts and prayers go out to your human family.

Civilian

November 5, 2014

Our prayers and condolences go out to the family and friends of our fallen brother. Thank you for your service.

Officer Edwin Lara / External Ops
Cook County Sheriffs Office, IL- Honor Guard

November 5, 2014

I am so sorry to hear of this horrible event. Rest in peace, Baron... I hope the suspect gets all he deserves and more.

Citizen

October 23, 2014

Rest in peace Baron!
You will not be forgotten!

Willie Bell Hopewell VA!
Friend Of All Law Enforcement Officers!

October 21, 2014

Rest easy, Baron.
End of Watch.

ADA Richard H Pepper
District Attorney's Office, Northampton County, PA

October 16, 2014

Run fast and bite hard K9 Baron, you have earned your wings.

Holly Cripps, President
We Ride To Provide, GA's K9 Memorial

October 12, 2014

My sincerest sympathy to the St. John's County Sheriff's Office for the loss of K9 Officer Baron. Run free to the bridge to join those who have gone before you, thank you for your service.

Dispatcher Sue Rusch
Punta Gorda PD, Punta Gorda FL

October 11, 2014

R.I.P K9 Baron. How sad and tragic!! Thank you for your service, dedication, loyalty and sacrifice. Prayers to your handler, you will once again meet at the Rainbow bridge.. until then run free sweet boy.

Lisa
Family Member - New Jersey LEO's
Pompton Lakes, NJ

October 11, 2014

R.I.P K9 Baron, we're keeping you, your handler and all our brothers and sisters with the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office in our thoughts and prayers. May God bless you and keep you in his loving care as you cross over the Rainbow Bridge. We remain " Standing Tall For Those Who Have Fallen "

Corporal James Barth
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Honor Guard,Tampa, Fla.

October 11, 2014

Rest in peace K9 Baron. Thank you for your service.

New Visions Criminal Justice Class of 2015
Syracuse, New York

October 9, 2014

My heartfelt condolences go out to the St. John's County Sheriff's Office and most especially Baron's handler Farrah Ashe. Baron's service is much appreciated and his sacrifice will not be forgotten.

David R. Benkendorf
UNF Criminal Justice student

October 9, 2014

Enjoy you're peace, K9 Baron. My sympathies to his handler.

Molly Feldman
Des Moines Area Community College
Criminal Justice Club President
Ankeny, Iowa

October 9, 2014

God Speed K-9 Baron. I know you are in great company in paradise.

Trooper D Osborne
Tennessee Highway Patrol

October 9, 2014

All dogs, especially K9 officers, go to heaven . . . . Our family's thoughts are with Baron's handler and fellow officers on the loss of one of their own.

Nick
Civilian

October 9, 2014

Thank you for your service Baron. I'm sorry you were taken from us. My heart goes out to your handler and all who knew you. I can't wait until we get to see you again. Until then, you go and run free and happily through the Heavens knowing you were loved and valued.

Kristi
Surviving Daughter of Special Agent J. Robert Porter
Federal Bureau of Investigation
E.O.W. 8/9/79

October 9, 2014

K9 Officer Baron, you gave your life doing the thing that you loved and were taught to do, Get the Bad Guy. You will be missed by your two legged partner and all of the other men and women of the St John's County Sheriff's Department. Go cross over the Rainbow Bridge and play with your new friends, and await the day that you and your two legged partner are together again. To your partner stay strong ma'am.

Detective Grade One Robert F. Jackson
Metropolitan Police Department Homicide Branch

October 9, 2014

Godspeed brave and loyal canine officer.
My prayers and respect to department.

Civilian Volunteer
Los Angeles Police Department

October 9, 2014

RIP Baron

Marshal Chris Di Gerolamo
Federal Air Marshal Service

October 8, 2014

IN MEMORY OF K9 BARON

To the family, friends, and colleagues of K9 Baron:

From the beginning of time after Cain killed his brother, Abel, there has been a need for law enforcement officers to protect the weak and to bring evildoers to justice. This work is necessary in a sinful world and is dangerous. In 2014, some sixteen law enforcement canines have sacrificed their lives to protect their handlers and the citizens of this great nation. Today, we honor the sacrifice of K9 Baron, of the St. Johns, Florida Sheriff’s Office, who drowned in the line-of-duty on Tuesday, October 7, 2014, while engaged in the apprehension attempt of a suspect wanted for felony narcotics distribution charges. It is believed that the suspect intentionally drowned K9 Baron in a body of water during the ensuing struggle and attempt apprehension.
Lord God, we are grateful for the life of K9 Baron. He died serving us. Help us never to forget. Help us celebrate the life of K9 Baron and honor his sacrifice. Be with the family, friends, and colleagues of this fallen hero. Comfort them and give them your strength. Guide those who seek to take care of the family of this hero. May those empowered to do so, care for them with integrity. In commemorating the death of this hero, help those who mourn to remember that death is not the end. Death does not have the final say, but is simply the transition to the glorious life to come. Dogs do go to heaven! They should look forward to that life to come with joy and thanksgiving.

As for the citizens of St. Johns County, Florida, help them to faithfully equip their law enforcement officers and canines with the best tools to protect their county. May their training be adequate to the task. Help the citizens of St. Johns County, Florida, to remember to fund their law enforcement canine programs adequately and treat their canine heroes with respect. Help the citizens of St. Johns County, Florida, to obey the law and treat each other with dignity so as not to add to the burden of crime and pain to their county.

The time for mourning will soon pass. We have now remembered and celebrated the life lost in this great tragedy. As the family, friends, and colleagues of K9 Baron go forward, they must celebrate the good things in their lives; and to celebrate life itself! K9 Baron was a significant investment and asset to the St. Johns County FL Sheriff’s Office and will be dearly missed.

Finally, Lord God, we pray for the families, friends, and colleagues of all the law enforcement officers and canines who have been killed in the line-of-duty and we thank you for their sacrifices. Bless the lives of their families, friends, and colleagues so they might find healing. Help their law enforcement organizations support the families of these fallen heroes. Even though their deaths might have been senseless, make something good come out of these situations so that their law enforcement organizations and the communities in which they lived and served might be stronger because of their lives and their deaths. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Now, may the Lord bless you, and keep you: the Lord make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.

In His Service,

Chaplain Steven R. Closs
Retired Captain of Police, Nashua NH Police Department
The Peacemakers Prayer Ministry

Chaplain Steven R. Closs
Retired Captain of Police, Nashua NH Police Department

October 8, 2014

Rest in peace, K9 Baron. Thank you for your loyal and dedicated service to your community. Your ultimate sacrifice will not be forgotten. Prayers for your handler and family and for St. Johns County SO. Godspeed, Hero.

Kathy B
Grateful Citizen

October 8, 2014