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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."
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 |