VIDEO: Slain Ohio Officer’s K-9 Attended Vigil, Will Live with Family
Video: Slain Ohio Officer’s K-9 Attended Vigil, Will Live with Family
Sam’s original trainer, Mike Pennington, got him from the shooting scene that day. He says Sam was scared and shaken up.

K-9 Sam attended the vigil for his fallen handler, Officer Eric Joering. (Photo: WKRN TV)
The K-9 partner of an Ohio officer who was killed in a shooting Saturday attended a vigil in his honor.
K-9 Sam was in the back of Officer Eric Joering’s police vehicle during the shooting. He wasn’t hurt, WKRN TV reports.
Sam’s original trainer, Mike Pennington, got him from the shooting scene that day. He says Sam was scared and shaken up.
Pennington says Sam is hurting. Despite his pain, he has traded in his K-9 badge for the title of therapy dog, bringing comfort to Officer Joering’s children.
Tuesday, the Fraternal Order of Police said it was decided Sam would be retired, instead of training with a new handler, and would go to live with Joering's wife and young daughters. FOP President Jason Pappas said it will take a resolution by Westerville city government to officially make it happen, ABC6 reports.
More Patrol

Colorado State Patrol Releases 2025 Struck-By Analysis
The Colorado State Patrol, after analyzing its 2025 struck-by incidents, identified one area for improvement: using traffic cones to provide advanced warning before the cruiser's location. Here is the agency’s final data.
Read More →
Streamlight Names 144th Marketing Group Law Enforcement Sales Rep Agency of the Year
Streamlight has recognized the 144th Marketing Group as its 2025 Sales Rep Agency of the Year Award for the Law Enforcement market.
Read More →
Streamlight Names 144th Marketing Group Law Enforcement Sales Rep Agency of the Year
Streamlight has recognized the 144th Marketing Group as its 2025 Sales Rep Agency of the Year Award for the Law Enforcement market.
Read More →
The Mission After the Moment
The mission of the Jorge Pastore Foundation is to support first responders through essential training, stronger community engagement, and mental wellness resources, all accessible and funded through donations, sponsorships, and foundation-led fundraising. It works closely with Team Wendy in the discussions about developing better protective gear for officers.
Read More →
Built for Patrol: How One Police Chief Fixed Communication, Boosted Visibility, and Changed the Culture
Patrol work hasn’t changed—but the expectations on officers have. See how one police chief helped officers get the right information at the right time, improve patrol visibility, and strengthen trust without adding complexity or surveillance. This real-world story shows how patrol-driven technology can make the job safer, smarter, and more effective—starting on day one.
Read More →
Safariland Solis Rethinks Concealable Duty
What if Level I retention didn’t require a full duty rig? Safariland’s Solis delivers trusted ALS security in a streamlined OWB platform built for administrative and plainclothes professionals who need protection without the bulk.
Read More →
K-9s Play a Critical Role in Finding Missing Persons
Real-world scenarios show that a tracking canine can detect and follow a human track several hours after it was made.
Read More →
Garmont Tactical’s LE Boot Lineup
In this video, we get a look at the latest law enforcement boots from Garmont Tactical, both for men and women. Kyle Ferdyn, sales manager, showcases four of the latest boots.
Read More →
Avon Protection Launches EXOSKIN-S2 High-Performance CBRN Protective Suit
With the commercial availability of Avon Protection’s EXOSKIN-S2, users now have increased options for their protective suit requirements across the spectrum of CBRN threat environments.
Read More →
Versaterm Acquires Aloft to Unlock a New Era of Drones for Public Safety
Versaterm has acquired Aloft, an FAA-approved Unmanned Service Supplier (USS) that specializes in real-time airspace intelligence and flight authorizations.
Read More →