Funeral Procession Planned For Rocky, Fallen K9

RIVERHEAD, NY — The community continues to mourn a Riverhead Police K9 dog, Rocky, who died tragically after being thrown from a vehicle during a police pursuit.

On Monday, Sept. 10, the Riverhead Town Police Department will be conducting a funeral procession for Rocky, "who was tragically taken" from the police department after being involved in crash during the Sept. 2 pursuit, police said.

Following a private service for Rocky, the funeral procession will begin at Veterans Memorial Park in Calverton at 11 a.m.

Veterans Memorial Park is located on State Route 25 in Calverton, across from Calverton National Cemetery. The procession will leave the park heading east on New York State Route 25 — Middle Country Road— to Riverhead Town Hall and from there, will then continue north on Howell Ave., ending at Riverhead Town Police headquarters, police said.

The Riverhead Police Department is asking that anyone wishing to view the funeral procession arrive at Veterans Memorial Park before 11 a.m., or plan to be at Riverhead Town Hall, located at 200 Howell Avenue in Riverhead.

After Rocky's heartbreaking death, donations are being accepted in his memory to help train a new dog.

The Riverhead Police Department has received an outpouring of support from the community, with many asking how they can help, officials said.

To that end, those who desire to donate in memory of Rocky can assist with K9 related expenses including acquisition, training, maintenance, equipment, and veterinarian costs. All donations will directly benefit the Riverhead Police Department's K9 units, and will support the training of a new K9 dog.

Checks can be made payable to "Office of the Chief of Police – K9", and addressed to Riverhead Town Police Department, 210 Howell Ave. Riverhead, NY 11901.

The tragedy unfolded in the early morning hours Sunday in Riverhead, when, at 2:30 a.m., at a DWI checkpoint on Peconic Avenue, a dark-colored Audi sedan was directed to stop.

An officer on the scene began to interview the driver, who disregarded commands to stop the vehicle and instead drove off, striking the officer, police said.

Next, several Riverhead Police vehicles engaged in a pursuit until stopping in Manorville when it was deemed to be too dangerous to continue, police said.

A Riverhead Police K9 unit had initially responded to the area to help police in the pursuit when he lost control of his vehicle on West Main Street, west of Raynor Avenue; the police K9 vehicle left the roadway and struck a utility pole on the south side of West Main Street, causing Rocky to be ejected from the car.

The police car, which sustained heavy damage, then ended up in a wooded are on the south side of the roadway, police said.

Rocky, who has served the Riverhead Police Department since May 2011, was killed, police said.

Both the officer initially struck by the fleeing vehicle and the K9 handler involved in the crash were treated at the scene by members of the Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corps. and transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center for treatment of non-life threatening injuries, police said.

No arrests have been made.

Patch photo courtesy Riverhead Police Department.