Virginia planned to dedicate a memorial Friday afternoon for a different kind of hero killed in the line of duty.
About 100 K-9 officers and their partners were expected at a ceremony Friday in Blacksburg remembering the sacrifices of law enforcement dogs. They'll help dedicate a statue installed at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech.
The life-size bronze image of a German Shepherd dog was sculpted by Blacksburg artist Larry Bechtel. The statue honors 12 dogs that have died in the line of duty in Virginia over the past 47 years. Authorities use dogs to locate drugs and explosives, and to help apprehend criminal suspects.
State Attorney General Bill Mims and Virginia Tech President Charles Steger are scheduled to speak at the ceremony.
Natalie Neumann reports...
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