Police dog's death is probed; memorial service is planned

BOARDMAN -- Services are pending for Rookie, a police dog killed Friday night in the parking lot of Glenwood Middle School.
Reports state that a car driven by a 17-year-old boy struck the dog about 10:35 p.m.
Police said the teenager cleared only a very small spot on an icy windshield before pulling out.
Rookie's handler, Officer Jack Neapolitan, had let Rookie out of his cruiser for a break.
Sgt. Brian Habeger said he was not sure if Rookie was on a leash.
Rookie was born in Romania in December 1997 and has been with Boardman Township Police Department since May 1999.
The dog assisted in numerous arrests on a variety of charges, according to Boardman police, including the discovery of 26 pounds of marijuana on a traffic stop with the Narcotics Enforcement Unit.
Police are investigating. Charges are pending. "It wasn't a willful action," Habeger said. "It's being handled as an accident."
The last memorial service for a local police dog was last December when Cassie, a retired drug dog with the Warren Police Department, died of old age. The service was attended by police officers from throughout Trumbull and Mahoning counties.