Piete
Piete
Law Enforcement Agency: New Castle County Police Department
Breed: Belgian Malinois
Handler: S/Cpl. Donald Witte
Birth/Death: 7/1/1996-2/19/2003
Years of active service: 1998-2003
Commendations: Pietie received four outstanding service citations and one life-saving citation. Distinguished Service Ribbon
Special Training/Unit: Pietie was responsible for over 75 drug trafficking arrests, and numerous felony arrests involving guns and stolen cars. Pietie and his partner Donnie were members of SWAT. Pietie was also North American police work dog certified and Eastern Police K-9 certified.
Wilmington Police K-9 Department lost K-9 Pietie, a Belgian Malinois. Pietie was undergoing a cat-scan for obstruction in his nose. During a search in a contaminated creek and wooded area, Pietie was in the process of apprehending a second suspect involved in a robbery when a foreign object was apparently lodged in his nose. He had an allergic reaction to the dye used in the cat-scan and went into cardiac arrest. They were unable to revive him. Officer Donald Witte, handler of five years was by his side. Many will miss Pietie, and have many fond memories. One day while they were training on the third floor of the Police station, Donnie and Dennis turned around and realized Pietie was gone. As it turned out, Pietie got tired of training and decided to leave. He got in the elevator, pushed the button and headed down. The elevator stopped on the second floor, Pietie waited like a gentleman as another officer entered. They rode down together and got out at the parking lot. The officer headed to his patrol car as Pietie headed to his. He was tired of training and ready to get some real work done. He was well known and adored by everyone.