Albion Department of Public Safety

Sgt. Kurt Etter

K-9 Brando

(Retired)

In 1994 Officer Kurt Etter (now Sergeant) was chosen to be Albion Public Safety's first canine handler assigned to road patrol. He was assigned "Brando" a very beautiful German Shepherd. On Tuesday June 1, 1999 Brando was passed away from complications from cancer. Now you may be thinking that he was just a dog. Well, to a canine handler they are much more than just dogs. They are our partners, friends and companions. They, in our minds, can be the difference between life and death if the situation presents itself. So maybe you can imagine the impact Brando had on Sgt. Etter's life and that of his families.

Sgt. Etter's personal loss aside for a moment, the community will suffer also. His dog has been responsible for the seizure of over $470,000 dollars in cash, cars and drugs since being put in service. One of them was the largest crack cocaine seizure ever recorded in Mid-Michigan (approximately 2 pounds, $180,000 dollars worth). He has also been successful on approximately two hundred tracks. Capturing crooks of all kinds. He will be missed.

Copyright © 2003 Albion Department of Public Safety - All Rights Reserved