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Kyle Pagerly & Jynx When I first met Kyle last year, I immediately recognized that he wasn't just another K9 Handler. He possessed an energy, and personality that was encouraging you to be his friend. Over the several months that lapsed between then and now we had the occassion to trade innumerable phone calls, emails and texts about all things related to K9. It was crystal clear that he loved what he did and only wanted to become better. The donation of the ballistic vests to our organization was the start of a friendship that I wish could have continued. I can honestly say I wish I still had his energy, determination, and ability. I learned of his death from a K9 Handler that received one of the vests donated to us by the Berks County Sheriffs Office. Shock was and understatement, as I ended up calling back in the morning hoping it was just a bad dream. Unfortunately it wasn't....it turned out to be a living nightmare. For the first 12 hours or so there were about 3 or 4 different version of what happened that were all from "official" sources, that initially said that not only Kyle was killed, but Jynx as well. When I was able to confirm with the Sheriff's secretary, that Jynx was NOT killed, it unfortunately did not provide much relief. She started to tell me how Jynx was a real hero, and then became so distraught, she had to end the call. I was able to contact someone with first hand information. While I will not fully provide our conversation (even though it would be ok with him) I will say the following: There is no real way to elevate the status of HERO. Although tragic and difficult for many to understand, their actions absolutely saved the lives of at least 7 other members of the task force. I know one person who wishes the outcome were different so he could thank Kyle in person for taking the lead with his partner, flanking and flushing out this extremely well hidden and eventually found to be well armed P.O.S. I was told, "if they hadn't been there we'd be dead because he intended to kill Cops, and had high ground". While Kyle's death will always be an emotional and painful memory for us, it is rest assuring that it wasn't in vain. I was extremely proud to have met and known him for even such a short time. While I am not in the habit of writing accolades about people, he was definitely a role model not only for law enforcement, but for society. Reading Eagle Kyles K9 Tried to Save his Life
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