This Pasco police dog is helping his partners even after his death

Pasco’s K9 Lemon is leaving behind a legacy for the other police dogs and officers working for the department.

In just three days this week, the newly formed Pasco Police Foundation collected about $3,000 for the K9 Officer Lemon Memorial Fund.

The money raised will go to help the others in the K9 unit.

The 10-year-old police dog died suddenly on Dec. 1 after retiring just weeks earlier. He had worked for the department for eight years.

Lemon’s health issues started in September when his intestines became knotted in a condition called a stomach flip.

Foundation leaders wanted to find a way to remember Lemon.

“We thought, ‘Goodness. What a great way to honor that K9,’” said foundation president Kellee Balcom. “Just in three days, this community generated $3,000.”

K9 Lemon was also remembered Thursday by a group of home school students who had seen him in action during a police department tour in October.

After they learned that he’d died, they brought in cards and lunch for handler Officer Josh Madsen and the police department.

Pasco Police Foundation

Along with helping officers with training and equipment, the new foundation also features a fund that officers can use to help people in the community who have emergencies.

Officers are often dealing with people who are in a crisis or need some sort of help, said Police Chief Ken Roske.

“The best way you can do that is through a foundation,” he said.

Pasco received some help from its neighbor to the west with the help of Boyd Wilson, who was instrumental in creating a similar foundation in Richland. Kennewick was one of the first agencies in town to start a community care program.

Pasco also received donations from Mike Miller of Moon Security and Charlie Grigg from Griggs Department Store and Ace Hardware.

Now, they are looking to build on those initial donations, Balcom said.

The organization can be reached at info@pascocares.org or info@wearepasco.org. The foundation accepts donations through Paypal at paypal.me/PascoCares.