DETECTIVE DAN HONORED
BY BOXER LOVERS WORLDWIDE
By
Maryann Watkins

(More Pictures of the event follow this story!)

It was "just another meeting" he had to attend. Or so he thought. But when Detective Dan Courtney of the Phoenix Police Department arrived at the Police Chief's conference room, he found two Boxers and a slew of cameramen waiting for him. The puzzled detective soon discovered why.

"Detective Dan the Boxer Man" (as he is now known throughout the department) was honored on March 19, 1998 for his successful efforts in reuniting two beloved Boxers with their families. On his behalf, donations totaling over a thousand dollars were presented to the Phoenix Police Department's K-9 Unit.

Phoenix Police Chief Dennis Garrett introduced Maryann Watkins, Co-Administrator of the Boxer Mailing List (BML), to the assembled group of about sixty people. She introduced BML and Boxer Club of Arizona (BCOA) members who had come to be a part of the presentation: Lin Jensen (who also serves as president of the BCOA), Judy Voran, Nathan and Denise Mess, Dorrell-Jo MacWhinnie, and Ann and Bill Stone. Getting most of the attention, however, were Jager and Yanni, Boxers owned by Maryann and Lin.

Maryann began by summarizing the events which led to the presentation and they deserve to be repeated here. Boxer lovers first became acquainted with Detective Dan in April, 1997 when Gabby, a 7-year-old Boxer owned by Lin, was stolen in broad daylight from her daughter's block-fenced backyard. Fortunately, quick-thinking witnesses who saw Gabby being forced into a waiting car, got the license plate number. The burglary was finally assigned to Detective Dan, who ran into a dead end when he first ran the plate. But he persisted and, within hours of receiving the case, found Gabby and arranged for the joyful, tear-filled reunion of Boxer and family.

Through this entire ordeal (which lasted five days) prayers and good thoughts were offered by Boxer lovers all over the world – members of the Boxer Mailing List. When news of Gabby's recovery hit the list, members sent notes, cards, and pictures to Detective Dan at the police department. This resulted in a news story in the Arizona Republic and a lot of kidding from Dan's colleagues.

As Maryann told the group of Phoenix Police officers and staff members, Detective Dan thought his "Boxer connection" had come to an end. Wrong.

Several months later (July, 1997), Vicki Crowley discovered that her precious Gertie, a 2-year-old Boxer, had been given away without her knowledge or consent. And to make matters worse, the young man who thought he now owned Gertie had moved to Arizona! Vicki filed a police report in Illinois and solicited help from BML members in Arizona. She was able to obtain a possible address for the man, and faxed her ownership papers, health records, police report, and recovery authorization to Maryann.

It sounds so simple: just go to the address and get Gertie. But Maryann was not about to attempt that without the required professional assistance. After being turned down by several agencies, she called Detective Dan to get some advice. He provided more than advice; he called the police in Illinois and received authorization to recover Gertie if he could find her. And find her he did. Gertie stayed with Maryann and Jager for a week while both Boxer mailing lists worked to arrange a CUR (Canine Underground Railroad) Run to get her home. Once again, Detective Dan was instrumental in reuniting a Boxer with her family.

Boxer Mailing List members wished to honor Detective Dan for his efforts, but wanted to do more than send cards and letters. After several ideas were discussed and researched, members decided to accept contributions that would ultimately be given to assist the Phoenix Police Department's K-9 Unit. Kathy Saxon set up an interest-bearing account at her bank and handled all the donations.

Sam Woolridge of PLEA (Phoenix Law Enforcement Association) made all the arrangements for the surprise presentation. In addition to Chief Garrett and other high-ranking police officials, others in attendance included Officer Paul Hubert of the K-9 Unit and his canine partner, Ranger (an 8-year-old German Shepherd), Dan's wife, Kitty, and PLEA President Terry Sills.

Lin presented a check for $100 from the Boxer Club of Arizona and Maryann had the honor of presenting $972.56, the total contribution from Boxer Mailing List members and one person who is not on the BML.

Our donations will go to the special PLEA fund for the K-9 Unit. This fund was established a few years ago after Dax, one of the unit's dogs, was killed in the line of duty. The fund is used to purchase dogs, provide extra training for K-9 handlers, competitions, special vet care, equipment, and anything else not routinely provided for in the police department's budget. Detective Dan was very pleased to know our contributions on his behalf will be used for this purpose.

In addition to the monetary gifts, we wanted Dan to have something he could keep to remind him of the people (and Boxers) he served so well. Judy presented a plaque on behalf of the Boxer Club of Arizona which reads:

"The Boxer Club of Arizona honors Detective Dan Courtney, Phoenix Police Department for outstanding service to Boxers and their people."

It is a beautiful plaque featuring a silver Boxer head at the top, with the engraving on an elegant black plate.

Just as Dan thought everything was over... one more surprise. Maryann made him an Honorary Boxer Owner by giving him a stuffed, flashy fawn Boxer from F.A.O. Schwarz. This special Boxer was named "Sherlock" (by members of the BML) and sports a collar and tag bearing his name.

As a final tribute, Jager (representing Boxers everywhere) expressed his appreciation and gratitude by shaking Detective Dan's hand.

The presentation was covered by four Phoenix TV stations, one radio station, and the Arizona Republic newspaper. The coverage expressed what we wanted people to know: The law regards dogs as property, but they are much more than that. They are members of our families. A lawn chair or VCR can be replaced but a member of the family can never be replaced. Detective Dan knows that and went the extra mile to reunite Boxers with their families.

As we were taking more pictures in the hall after the presentation, Dan gazed at Jager and Yanni and quietly said, "They are such noble dogs."

The thesaurus gives many words that can be used in place of "noble": valuable, worthy, meritorious, remarkable, heroic, admirable, extraordinary, grand, princely, magnificent, dignified, charitable, gracious.

In a very short time, Detective Dan Courtney recognized the true essence of the Boxer. While he is not owned by a Boxer (yet), he has certainly become a member of our Worldwide Boxer Family. We are honored to have him with us.

Copyright March, 1998 Maryann Watkins

For those of us unable to attend the presentation of honors to Detective Dan, we can thank Ann Stone for the following pictures to help us feel that we were there.

Judy and Maryann waiting
for Detective Dan to arrive.



Officer Paul Hubert and Ranger represented the K-9 Unit at the presentation. Ranger took everything in stride, including the two Boxers who invaded his territory for the day.


Nathan Mess, Dorrell-Jo MacWhinnie, and Denise Mess didn't want to miss the presentation!


Lin, Dan, Maryann, and Paul proudly show off their dogs Yanni, Sherlock, Jager, and Ranger. Dan has just been given Sherlock, making him an honorary Boxer owner.


Dorrell-Jo and Maryann give Detective Dan some last minute tips on how to care for Sherlock.


Judy Voran gets ready to present a plaque to Dan on behalf of the Boxer Club of Arizona.


Phoenix Police Chief Dennis Garrett, Officer Paul Hubert and Ranger, Lin Jensen and Yanni, Detective Dan Courtney and Sherlock, Maryann Watkins and Jager, PLEA President Terry Sills.

Detective Dan, the complete Gabby Story

Detective takes a Bow
article in the Arizona Repulbic