Just weeks after an Ohio Police Officer was ambushed and killed in the line of duty, the Veterans and First Responders Foundation honored his dream of becoming a K9 handler by donating a new police dog to the department, continuing a legacy shared with his father.
A new police K9 dog has been donated to the Euclid Police Department in honor of Officer Jacob Derbin, a 23-year-old who was killed in the line of duty on Mother’s Day 2024.
Derbin, who had served just 10 months on the force, was ambushed and fatally shot while on duty. He was also an Army reservist who worked on Chinook helicopters. His dream was to follow in the footsteps of his father, Vince Derbin, a 22-year veteran K9 officer with the department.
Two weeks after the tragedy, a meeting was held with Euclid Police Department leadership, including Sgt. John Lally of the K9 division and Officer Vince Derbin. During that meeting, a commitment was made to ensure Jacob’s legacy would live on.
The Veterans & First Responders Foundation (VFR) pledged to cover 100% of the cost for a new K9 dog, including the dog’s purchase, training, and the assigned officer’s training.
David Knott, President of the VFR revealed in an exclusive correspondence with Kyle Reyes, owner of the 1776 Project and Law Enforcement Today, that he presented a $5,000 deposit check to Paul Shaughnessy, President of Excel K-9 Services, to initiate the process of acquiring the dog in July 2024.
“I made a promise that we would do our best to make sure that Jacob’s name would not be forgotten,” Knott vowed in the email.
The new K9 will serve not only as a working partner to the department but also as a tribute to Officer Jacob Derbin and his family.
The VFR, according to its website, is dedicated to helping First Responders, Veterans, Military personnel, K-9s, and their families access the support they need to live meaningful and fulfilling lives.
Their programs combine proven methods, innovative technology, and comprehensive resources to help our nation’s heroes process trauma, stay connected, and begin to heal. They also place, according to their website,a strong emphasis on mental health services, offering wellness evaluations, therapy sessions, counseling for depression and anxiety, and much more.
Earlier this month, it was also reported, according to Spectrum News, that Officer Durbin was one of six fallen officers who were honored at the 37th Ohio Peace Officers Memorial Ceremony.
Officer Durbin also had, Spectrum News went on to reveal, an American flag placed in his honor by the memorial wall among the over 200 flags that are already there, in recognition of every Ohio officer who died in the line of duty since 1976.
“For them, duty was a commandment to serve others,” said Fayette County Sheriff Vernon Stanforth. And in fulfilling that commitment, they devoted their lives not to personal gain, but to the common good.“
