The Austin Police Department, Greater Austin Crime Commission 401K9 and Junior League of Austin invited the public to celebrate the retirement of Austin Police K9s Raggio, Emma and Horrigan on Monday, May 20, 2019.
K-9 Raggio was obtained in November 2011 through the Department of Defense Military Working Dog (DOD MWD) program out of Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. K-9 Raggio was named in honor of 9/11 hero, Port Authority Supervisor Eugene Raggio, who gave his life re-entering the Twin Towers to rescue people during the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. During his career, K-9 Raggio had more than 600 deployments. He is currently enjoying retirement at home with Officer Clint Hamilton and his family.
K-9 Emma was also obtained through the DOD MWD program out of Lackland AFB San Antonio, Texas. She came to Austin Police in April of 2012. K-9 Emma enjoys retirement at home with Officer Arthur Nelsen and his family.
K-9 Horrigan is named in honor of Master Sergeant Robert Horrigan (KIA 2007, US Army): Assigned to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
On June 17, 2005, MSG Horrigan and MSG Michael McNulty stormed a known compound of Abu al-Zarqawi, the al-Qaida leader in Iraq. Horrigan and McNulty were the first to enter the doors of the compound when they were hit by an enemy ambush. When they were shot by enemy fire, the call for help went out immediately, “TWO EAGLES DOWN.” Horrigan died instantly from his wounds and McNulty died a few hours later. Horrigan was 40 years old and is from Austin, TX.
During K-9 Horrigan’s service with the Austin Police Department Bomb Squad, he received more than 960 hours of training, including certifications with the National Narcotic Detector Dog Association (NNDDA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Pacesetter K-9.
K-9 Horrigan has had over 300 deployments over the course of his career. He has performed motorcade and protective sweeps for countless foreign and domestic dignitaries to include two US presidents, as well as former presidents and presidential candidates. Each year K-9 Horrigan has provided bomb and security sweeps for the City of Austin during our parades and festivals. He has worked five SXSW, ACL and COTA F1 races.
Raggio: Horrigan:
Emma: