Galloway Township Police Announce Death Of K9 Unit

GALLOWAY Twp., N.J. (CBS) -- The Galloway Township Police Department have announced the death of one of their own, a K9 unit who collapsed during a training session.

According to police, K9 "Blaze," a 6-year-old German Shepherd who was the partner of Ofc. Scott Winneberger, collapsed Wednesday afternoon just after starting an indoor training session.

Blaze was taken to the Absecon Veterinary Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Doctors indicated that based on his core temperature, the heat was not related to his death.

Blaze graduated from the Atlantic County John "Sonny" Burke K9 Academy in May 2007 as a patrol dog, and in 2008 as a scent dog trained in narcotics detection.

Police say K9 Blaze was responsible for numerous drug detections and seizures, along with many criminal apprehensions including one as recently as June 5th where he apprehended a fleeing suspect along Rt. 30 in the Highlands section of Galloway Township.

Blaze is the second Police K9 the Galloway Township Police department lost this year, on April 21st K9 Sabre lost a brief but valiant battle with cancer.