State police dedicate memorial to K-9 killed in the line of duty

State police have dedicated a new memorial at General Headquarters in honor of K- Frankie A -year veteran of the State Police and member of the Special Tactical Operations Gang K- Frankie was killed in the line of duty during a hostile event response in Fitchburg The development forever changed the subject of his life his handler family loved ones and colleagues on the State Police This memorial provides an vital dedicated space to celebrate the life of K- Frankie and reflect on the enormous contributions of K- s and their handlers to the mission of the State Police explained Col Geoffrey Noble I would like to thank those who made this special project a reality Its presence on our Framingham campus fulfills our collective promise to remember and honoring the fallen heroes among us both in the immediate aftermath of a tragedy and in the years that follow to ensure we never forget their provision Located prominently to the left of the main entrance to General Headquarters the permanent memorial pays tribute to Frankie s years of provision on the Massachusetts State Police Using images and videos of K- Frankie throughout his career skilled artisans in Utah crafted the life-size bronze figure standing atop a granite base The project was fully funded by an anonymous donor through the State Police Association of Massachusetts Benevolent Fund In the program of their partnership K- Frankie and his handler Sergeant David Stucenski achieved great things They earned several recognitions including the George L Hanna Medal of Valor the State Police Medal of Merit and several awards from the United States Police Canine Association for evidence recovery agility and other law enforcement skills