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| Last updated September 22, 2006. |
K-9 Crime Fighters
Hondo was a large male German Shepherd and
physically very imposing at 105 pounds. Hondo served for
four years in K-9 Patrol from 1999 to 2002. He served
with Officer Kevin Smith 1999-2001 and with Officer
Shaun Mierl from 2001-2002.
Hondo retired and went to live with his former handler
Officer Kevin Smith and his family. He enjoyed retired life
and was "a big baby at home" who loved to play with
children and spend time lounging around the pool. Hondo
passed away in August 2006 in his sleep. He "served the
City of Austin well and will be dearly missed by
everyone's life he touched."
physically very imposing at 105 pounds. Hondo served for
four years in K-9 Patrol from 1999 to 2002. He served
with Officer Kevin Smith 1999-2001 and with Officer
Shaun Mierl from 2001-2002.
Hondo retired and went to live with his former handler
Officer Kevin Smith and his family. He enjoyed retired life
and was "a big baby at home" who loved to play with
children and spend time lounging around the pool. Hondo
passed away in August 2006 in his sleep. He "served the
City of Austin well and will be dearly missed by
everyone's life he touched."
Hondo
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| Shaun & Hondo go after Mark, wearing a bite sleeve, at a Petco Demo |
Hondo had some good arrests:
Kidnapping - Hondo and his first handler, Kevin Smith, responded to a call in East Austin
where Officer Smith had stopped a car involved in a disturbance. The driver ran off and
while detaining the passenger, Officer Smith heard moaning from the trunk. A man who
had been kidnapped, robbed, and duct-taped had been put in the trunk of his own car.
Hondo was able to track and locate the driver who had fled hiding underneath a house
about 3 blocks away. The driver was later found to have two other outstanding warrants for
Aggravated Kidnapping and was also a Texas Syndicate gang member.
Kidnapping & Assault - Hondo and his second handler, Officer Shaun Mierl, responded to a
disturbance in south Austin between a male and female. It was later determined that the
female had been kidnapped and assaulted by the male who then had fled. Hondo was
able to track the male suspect into a wooded area. When the suspect saw Hondo and
Officer Mierl approaching, he tried to run again. Hondo successfully apprehended the
suspect, preventing him from escaping capture.
Serial Rapist - Although not widely publicized at the time, Hondo and Officer Mierl were
responsible for apprehending an infamous serial rapist in northwest Austin. The two
responded to an apartment complex to search for a male who had attempted to gain entry
into a female's apartment. The female reported that the suspect matched the description of
a serial rapist who had been tormenting the area. Several specialized APD units had been
trying to catch this rapist for months. Hondo searched the complex and found the suspect
hiding underneath a stairwell. The suspect gave up after seeing Hondo's enormous size
and was taken into custody without incident. The suspect was later positively identified
through photo line-ups and DNA evidence as being the serial rapist. Several rape cases in
the area were cleared and a dangerous criminal was taken off the street, thanks to Hondo
and Officer Mierl.
Kidnapping - Hondo and his first handler, Kevin Smith, responded to a call in East Austin
where Officer Smith had stopped a car involved in a disturbance. The driver ran off and
while detaining the passenger, Officer Smith heard moaning from the trunk. A man who
had been kidnapped, robbed, and duct-taped had been put in the trunk of his own car.
Hondo was able to track and locate the driver who had fled hiding underneath a house
about 3 blocks away. The driver was later found to have two other outstanding warrants for
Aggravated Kidnapping and was also a Texas Syndicate gang member.
Kidnapping & Assault - Hondo and his second handler, Officer Shaun Mierl, responded to a
disturbance in south Austin between a male and female. It was later determined that the
female had been kidnapped and assaulted by the male who then had fled. Hondo was
able to track the male suspect into a wooded area. When the suspect saw Hondo and
Officer Mierl approaching, he tried to run again. Hondo successfully apprehended the
suspect, preventing him from escaping capture.
Serial Rapist - Although not widely publicized at the time, Hondo and Officer Mierl were
responsible for apprehending an infamous serial rapist in northwest Austin. The two
responded to an apartment complex to search for a male who had attempted to gain entry
into a female's apartment. The female reported that the suspect matched the description of
a serial rapist who had been tormenting the area. Several specialized APD units had been
trying to catch this rapist for months. Hondo searched the complex and found the suspect
hiding underneath a stairwell. The suspect gave up after seeing Hondo's enormous size
and was taken into custody without incident. The suspect was later positively identified
through photo line-ups and DNA evidence as being the serial rapist. Several rape cases in
the area were cleared and a dangerous criminal was taken off the street, thanks to Hondo
and Officer Mierl.
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| Shaun & Hondo |