A line of officers, as well as firefighters and city officials, lined the front of the department’s East Second Street headquarters to honor K-9 Promber, who died suddenly Saturday morning as the result of an unexpected medical condition.

A large American flag was draped from two of the city’s ladder trucks just next to City Hall. A caravan of police vehicles, including that of handler Erik Kraft, passed in front of the department around 11:45 a.m.

Officers saluted as the vehicles passed.

Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist said it was important to remember K-9 Promber, a young German shepherd named after Dunkirk native Det. Steve Promber who died in March 2019.

Officers are pictured as K-9 handler Erik Kraft passes in the department's K-9 vehicle. P-J photo by Eric Tichy

“We wanted a large public event to honor him,” Sundquist said.

Lt. Timothy Jackson, interim chief of the Jamestown Police Department, said he was shocked to learn of K-9 Promber’s passing. “It was completely unexpected. I was in complete shock,” Jackson said.

Jackson noted that police dogs play an important role, not only for police departments that rely on their tracking ability and narcotics detection, but for the community as well.

“It’s a huge loss to the entire K-9 community and the citizens of Jamestown as well because he’s a great tool for a variety of reasons,” Jackson said.

He added: “It’s his partner, but you develop a bond, and so it’s upsetting. He was obviously upset.”

K-9 handler Erik Kraft is pictured hugging a fellow officer following the procession. P-J photo by Eric Tichy

The procession began in Pennsylvania after K-9 Promber’s remains were collected from the Russell Veterinary Hospital in Warren County. Conewango Township, Pa., Police officer Scott Neiswonger and Warren County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Tom Kibbey escorted Kraft to and from the hospital.

Neiswonger also made arrangements for local and state agencies to honor K-9 Promber and Kraft.

“I wanted to do something for officer Kraft and his family and the Jamestown Police Department — to pass along our condolences,” Neiswonger said. “Because of the support that all the K-9 guys and Officer Kraft have given to me through Choper, we felt this was the very least we could do for him and the Jamestown Police Department.”

Neiswonger’s previous partner, K-9 Choper died of a fall taken during a training exercise on June 6, 2018.

“I made contact with the heads of the departments,” he said. “Everybody was very willing to help out and show their support.”

He asked for any available officers to participate by lining up along Route 62 at the state line.

Officers from Conewango Township Police Department, Warren County Sheriff’s Office, Warren Police Department, Pennsylvania Game Commission, Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry and Warren County Public Safety stood between their vehicles and saluted as the Jamestown Police Department vehicle bearing K-9 Kraft and Promber’s remains passed by. Other departments passed along their condolences and regrets as other obligations kept them from participating, Neiswonger said.

Neiswonger and Kibbey dropped their escort at the state line where it was taken up by about 12 vehicles from several agencies in New York.

Neiswonger said Kraft was appreciative of the show of support. “He was overwhelmed.”

“We work together all the time,” he said of the K-9 officers in the region. “We train together. It’s very important. We have a very close community and that doesn’t stop at the state line.”