September 20, 2023
A hero’s sendoff A decorated K-9 searchand-rescue dog is retiring from service in the St. Charles County Police Department after celebrated career
St. Charles County honors Purple Heart recipients Pg. 3
“We gave Tank the t-shirt of the child and within two minutes, (the child) was found. It was amazing how quickly our training was put to use.” ~ Officer Courtney Spiess, SCCPD
By Brett Auten
St. Charles County Police Officer Courtney Spiess knew from the jump that she had something special. It was 2016, and Spiess had just guided a K-9 searchand-rescue dog named Tank through his recently completed training and certification. The ink wasn’t even 24-hours old on the diploma before the Hanoverian Scenthound was called into action. “It was our very first day back from school certification,” Spiess said. “It was not even a regular shift. We were called in because there was an autistic boy in O’Fallon who had gone missing.” No one could find the child. The helicopter heat sensors were coming up empty. In stepped the fury rookie. “We gave Tank the t-shirt of the child and within two minutes, (the child) was found,” Spiess said. “It was amazing
Around Town
Submitted photo After seven years on the job, Tank, a decorated K-9 officer with the St. Charles County Police Department, retired last week. Tank has helped locate and save 13 missing people who were at risk of harm due to mental or physical health needs and tracked multiple bank robbers, escaped inmates and homicide suspects. He is pictured with his trainer, St. Charles County Officer Courtney Spiess.
how quickly our training was put to use.” Two weeks later, a dementia patient had gone missing. Two other canine officers had taken a crack at it but to no avail.
Time was ticking. The patient had been missing for over six hours before Tank was given a pillow case. “About 12-to-16 minutes lat-
er, Tank found the guy,” Spiess said. Late last week, the St. Charles County Police Department was filled with fellow officers and others who showered praise on the K-9 hero. Now eight-yearsold, age and the physicality of the job have caught up with Tank. Nagging back pain began two years ago and he is retiring on the advice of his doctor. The ceremony included a tribute video, plenty of selfies and all of the scratches, pets and dog treats he could take. “I was ready for his final call on the radio, but they didn’t warn me about the video,” Spiess said. “That did make me cry. It was emotional hearing from the people we had helped and the people he had touched. It was a little bit overwhelming.” Tank’s success rate was second to none. During his career, he helped locate and save 13 missing people who were at risk of harm due to mental or physical health needs. He tracked multiple bank robbers, escaped inmates and homicide suspects. Tank played an essential role locating key evidence for an armed robbery case in St. Charles and a homicide case in Bridgeton. He also located a combined total of $100,000 in cash associated with illegal narSee ‘HERO’ page 2
Serving St. Louis, St. Charles and Lincoln Counties | FREE Online at mycnews.com | Vol. 25 No. 38 | 636-379-1775
Habitat for Humanity of St. Charles County hosts homebuyer readiness program Pg. 3 Innsbrook to host annual Car and Truck Show Oct. 7. Pg. 4 Mosaics Fine Art Festival receives grant. Pg. 4
Features
Recipe, Movie & Sudoku. Pg. F-1 CLASSIFIEDS AND HOME & GARDEN. Pg. F-2 /F-3 Moore On Life, Lifestyle & Crossword. Pg. F-4
Weather FRIDAY Cloudy 80/63 SATURDAY Partly Cloudy 81/63 SUNDAY Partly Cloudy 78/59
READ US ONLINE!