Santa Ana : Old Zero, City’s First Police Dog, Is Dead

Old Zero has chased down his last fleeing felon.

Santa Ana’s first police dog is dead and soon his cremated remains will be buried along with his badge and ID number. Police officials hope to have a memorial plaque dedicated at the Civic Center in his memory.

“We thought about burying him in Huntington Beach at the pet cemetery but then we decided that wouldn’t be right. He belongs here in Santa Ana,” said Officer Raul Luna, who had worked with Zero since the city began its police dog program in March, 1982.

There were seven police dogs in the county then, a number that has grown to 47.

“He was a hero around here,” police spokeswoman Maureen Thomas said.

The prolific canine, who died of natural causes, made some 40 arrests and bit a lot of evildoers in the process. The biggest asset of a good police dog, Luna said, is that they prevent gunshots.

Once, for example, Luna and another officer were struggling with a powerfully built man and losing, despite using their batons. “I mean this baton is bouncing off the guy,” Luna said. “Absolutely no effect. He was throwing us around like paper dolls.”

Luna released the dog by lowering the remote-controlled police car windows and a fight ensued with Zero getting punched and put into a headlock. The suspect later told Luna that he was trying to break the German shepherd’s jaw. After several bites the man gave up and was handcuffed and taken to the hospital for numerous stitches.

“At the hospital, he says, ‘If it wasn’t for that dog, I woulda killed you both,’ ” Luna said. “I said, ‘If it wasn’t for that dog, I woulda had to shoot you.’ ”

Although Zero was known as a tough dog, he could also be affectionate and spent much of his time doing community relations in local schools. “We’d go to elementary school assemblies with 500 kids or more and I’d just turn him loose,” Luna said. “The kids would play and fall all over him and there was never any problem.”

Luna will stay in the police dog program as Santa Ana has already spent the $3,500 for a new dog on the five-canine force. Officer and dog, another shepherd named “Frei,” are finishing up training and should be back on patrol in a few weeks.