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April 23, 2010 in City
Spokane police K-9 Var honored after death
Spokane Police Officer Dan Lesser (rear) has a new partner named Rav who sits by his side at the Police Academy on April 9, 2009. At front is Var, who worked with Lesser capturing homicide suspects.
(Full-size photo)
A Spokane police K-9 who died after surgery to remove a brain tumor was honored this week by the Washington State Police Canine Association.
Var, a 10-year-old German shepherd who died last June, was awarded the Medal of Valor for a March 17, 2009, shooting that struck him twice. Var’s handler, Officer Dan Lesser, shot and killed the suspect, 22-year-old Johnnie L. Longest III.
Longest, a meth addict, had abandoned a stolen car and ran from police; investigators said he was preparing to shoot again when Lesser shot him.
Lesser accepted the award for Var in Yakima on Tuesday. About 100 K-9 handlers from around Washington attended the spring seminar.
Pierce County Sheriff’s deputy John Munson, president of the Canine Association, said Var saved Lesser’s life “and possible the lives of others,” according to a news release.
Var also received the Spokane Police Department’s Purple Heart in April 2009.
Human trafficking suspects released 
Another_Perspective on April 23 at 1:15 p.m.
So they honor a dog, but not Otto Zehm, whom they murdered.
and we know the Lesser incident was a cover up..
JayNW on April 23 at 2:30 p.m.
This was an award from the State Canine Assoc., not the city of Spokane, and not the Spokane Police Dept. This was a dog who put his life on the line every night so others would be safe. Others include the ungrateful citizens of this town, not just the other cops.
Otto Zehm is completely unrelated to this story, unrelated to Var.
There was no cover up by anyone on the Longest shooting. Unless you think the cops shot their own dog. In which case if you think that then you are really one of the dumbest people around.
32Ford on April 23 at 5:09 p.m.
Another_Perspective……… you are such a lower form of life that you would suggest such a notion that this was a cover up. Maybe you could find another rock and crawl under where you belong. How dare you!!!!!!!!
johnclarke on April 23 at 8:56 p.m.
Unfortunately, you can’t read a single story without A_P’s hateful, pointless and ignorant comments plastered all over it. I really wish the mod’s would do something about it.
misjustice on April 23 at 9:26 p.m.
R.I.P. Var; you served bravely and valiently!
Johnclarke; again, I second your motion…re: A_P…very boorish and negative. For some reason the Mods let his offensive posts stand, even ones that are personally offensive and ones where he has said he would give my phone number out to criminals…he’s a punk!
lewis8457 on April 23 at 11:05 p.m.
dogs are very special animals it is no accident spelled backwards dog is god. 10 years old he was in the prime of his life.
Puppy go night night………