Beloved retired Charleroi K-9 Rex dies

By TAYLOR BROWN
tbrown@yourmvi.com
The Charleroi Regional Police Department is mourning the death of one of their own — retired K-9 Officer Rex.
Rex, 14, died Monday.
The beloved canine was taken to Fayette Veterinary Hospital Monday morning by his owner and handler, Billy Gardner. He was accompanied by several of his Charleroi Regional Police colleagues, including Lt. Chad Zelinsky, his relatives, officers from Rostraver Township, Brownsville, state police and Elizabeth Township Officer Dan Novacek and his K-9 partner Eli, to say goodbye to the four-legged Mon Valley hero.
“You don’t realize how short life is until you lose your best friend,” Novacek said. “God bless and rest in peace canine Rex.”
Members of several emergency service agencies took to social media Monday to offer their condolences on what many called an immeasurable loss for the community.
“The officers and firefighters of the Charleroi Fire Department send our condolences to K-9 Officer Billy Gardner and the rest of the Charleroi Regional Police on the loss of retired K-9 Officer Rex,” the department said. “It was a pleasure working with you.”
Rex retired after more than a decade on the job two years ago, after working his last shift with Gardner April 1, 2017.
While Gardner had previously described Rex as being “just business,” for the past two years he has remained home, relaxing with Gardner and his family and training with his younger “brother” and current Charleroi Regional K-9 Blitz.
As Rex approached retirement, Gardner said he had noticed the aging police pup begin to slow down and knew it was time, though Rex would have likely disagreed.
Gardner said the transition from full-time police dog to retiree was difficult for Rex, who despite his graying fur, was always still ready to go at the drop of a hat and would become jealous when his younger successor would leave for work in the morning.
During his career, Rex had more than 10 contact apprehensions and was discovering up to five drug finds a day during his prime.
Refereed to as an “obedience robot,” Gardner previously credited his canine partner with saving his and others lives hundreds of times without anyone ever knowing it.
Mike Carcella, a former Charleroi police officer and current state police trooper, recalled how “cool” it was working with a K-9 officer during his early days on the job.
“Ten years ago I started my career at Charleroi Police Department before joining PSP,” he said in a social media post. “I still remember being brand new, walking in and thinking how cool it was to work with a K-9 officer.”

During his first week on the job, Rex gave him a run for his money – and several families in the Magic City a good laugh.
“Sometime around my first week, Bill took me down to the Charleroi ball fields to let Rex run and visit with the families at the park,” Carcella recalled. “Typical in the police family, I was still brand new and should have expected a little hazing and for the most part I did. I just didn’t think a 70-pound Malinois would rip my duty pants completely off of me in front of a bunch of families trying to enjoy their day at the park.”
While Carcella said there are too many memories to share, those who worked with Gardner and Rex know of all of the most popular ones.
“I’ve never met another dog like him and Bill and Rex were perfect partners,” Carcella said. “Rex was an unbelievable K-9 and found countless amounts of drugs and apprehended a ton of people who I’m sure regret ever running from him. You sure will be missed Rex. Even though he embarrassed me in front of an entire park. Even though I think Rex hated me, he had my back on plenty of calls.”
Rostraver West-Newton Emergency Services paramedic Terry Foster Jr. said in a social media post that stealing pants was one of his signature moves.
“I will never forget his signature move of stealing a perps pants after the take down,” Foster said. “Made for a few interesting nights. He meant so much to this community as well. A true LEO ambassador, thank you for your faithful service.”
New Magisterial District Judge Eric Porter, Charleroi’s former police chief, said Gardner is heartbroken.
“I spoke with Bill early this morning and this is going to be tough for him,” Porter said. “We all loved Rex, but they were never separated.”
Porter recalled years working first hand with Charleroi’s favorite canine.
“He was one of the finest dogs I’ve ever seen in police work,” Porter said. “I can’t even begin to count the amount of drugs found or criminal apprehensions he made, not to mention how many times I was simply amazed by his obedience skills.
“He was a very big part of making Charleroi a safer community and we will forever be indebted to him for his loyal service.”