LA County DA Hochman swears in new victim services K-9s
Three dogs, a Labrador retriever, a poodle and a border collie/poodle mix have been professionally trained to help victims of sexual and physical abuse, domestic violence and human trafficking. While primarily serving children, the K-9s will also support people with disabilities and family members of homicide victims at all of the 14 Los Angeles County courthouses.
"These K-9s are heroes of the DA's Office, providing immeasurable strength and support to children and other vulnerable victims as they navigate the criminal justice system in the aftermath of horrific, life-altering crimes," District Attorney Nathan Hochman said.
The newest members of the team, Miata, Johnnie and Corbin, are the second generation of dogs specifically trained for this unit.
"We extend a heartfelt welcome to Miata, Johnnie and Corbin as they begin their career at LADA, ensuring our office can offer this invaluable service to crime victims for years to come," Hochman said.
The K-9 team has supported more than 1,625 victims and witnesses, ranging from 6 to 78 years old, since the program began in 2017. The District Attorney's Office said that 66% of the victims helped by the dogs were children.
"These four-legged friends support victims as they provide testimony that has been critical in many successful prosecutions," Hochman said. "Just being able to pet a kind and calming canine can give strength to a witness who stands and testifies in court against their offender."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Newsweek
Missing Teen Found Alive at Bottom of Ravine Days Later With Injuries
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Dakota Trenkle Jr., a 13-year-old who was reported missing on Sunday, was found alive at the bottom of a nearby ravine with serious injuries to his head and leg, according to the local sheriff's department and a GoFundMe created on his behalf. Authorities said the Missouri boy had survived more than three days without food or water. Newsweek has reached out to the St. Francois County Sheriff's Department for comment via email on Friday. What To Know Trenkle was reported missing after he left home on his skateboard to visit a friend but never arrived, authorities said. In a July 29 post, the St. Francois County Sheriff's Department reported that Trenkle was found "after an extensive search involving multiple agencies and widespread community support." Earlier that day, Trenkle's brother called emergency responders after finding Dakota's skateboard about a half mile from their home. Police then requested support from the Farmington Correctional Center (FCC) K-9 Unit. A 5-year-old bloodhound named Daryl successfully followed Trenkle's scent and discovered him at the bottom of a ravine in about a foot of water, nearly 240 feet down. "Dakota sustained a traumatic leg injury and endured 96 hours of being exposed to the elements without food or water. Due to Dakota's current condition, he was airlifted by ARCH helicopter to a St. Louis area hospital for emergency medical care," the sheriff's department post said. A GoFundMe set up by his aunt, Brittney Van Volkenburg, said he suffered "head trauma." A photo of the K-9 bloodhound that rescued Dakota Trenkle Jr. is shown on the St. Francois County Sheriff's Department Facebook page. A photo of the K-9 bloodhound that rescued Dakota Trenkle Jr. is shown on the St. Francois County Sheriff's Department Facebook page. St. Francois County Sheriff's Department Facebook. What People Are Saying St. Francois County Sheriff Jeff Crites: "This was an incredibly difficult search, both physically and emotionally. Finding Dakota alive after so many days is nothing short of a miracle. We are thankful to everyone who contributed their time and energy to bring him home." Van Volkenburg, also a volunteer firefighter with the Goose Creek Lake Fire Department, told KSDK: "This was a miracle. He's a fighter. He's been a fighter since the day he was born." Lieutenant Virginia Stafford, handler on the K-9 unit, told KSDK: "We had our gear on, which makes us hotter. The terrain was slick from the humidity ... as soon as we went down, Daryl was on track; he was pulling really well. He did lead us down to him ... There's no way he could have hollered for help; he couldn't speak when we got to him. Daryl led us straight to him ... Daryl is a hero. He did a great job. That's why we train every week, in all elements—hot, cold, water, snow. It paid off." What Happens Next An online fundraiser has raised over $13,000, with more than 300 donations for Trenkle's medical bills.
Los Angeles Times
4 days ago
- Los Angeles Times
Russian missile and drone attack on Kyiv kills at least 13 people and injures more than 130
KYIV, Ukraine — Russian missile and drone attacks overnight on Ukraine's capital city killed at least 13 people, including a 6-year-old boy, and wounded 132 others, authorities said Thursday. A 5-month-old girl was among 14 children wounded, Ukraine's Emergency Service said. It was the highest number of children injured in a single attack on Kyiv since the start of Russia's invasion three years ago, according to public records consulted by The Associated Press. A large part of a nine-story residential building collapsed in the attack, City Military Administration head Tymur Tkachenko said. Rescue teams searched for people trapped under the rubble. Yana Zhabborova, 35, a resident of the damaged building, woke up to the sound of thundering explosions, which blew off the doors and windows of her home. 'It is just stress and shock that there is nothing left,' said Zhabborova, a mother of a 5-month-old infant and a 5-year-old child. Russia fired 309 Shahed and decoy drones, and eight Iskander-K cruise missiles overnight, the Ukrainian air force said. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted and jammed 288 strike drones and three missiles. Five missiles and 21 drones struck targets. Russian troops also struck a residential 5-story building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk, according to the head of Donetsk regional military administration Vadym Filashkin. He said one person was killed and at least 11 more injured. At least 27 locations across Kyiv were hit by the attack, Tkachenko said, with the heaviest damage seen in the Solomianskyi and Sviatoshynskyi districts. More than 100 buildings were damaged in Kyiv, including homes, schools, kindergartens, medical facilities and universities, he said. Russia's Defense Ministry said Thursday that it had shot down 32 Ukrainian drones overnight. A drone attack had caused a fire at an industrial site in Russia's Penza region, local Gov. Oleg Melnichenko said. He didn't immediately give further details other than to say that there were no casualties. In the Volgograd region, some trains were also halted after drone wreckage fell on local railway infrastructure, state rail operator Russian Railways said. Russia's Defense Ministry also said that its forces took full control of the strategically important city of Chasiv Yar in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region. Russian and Ukrainian troops have battled for control of Chasiv Yar for nearly 18 months. It includes a hilltop from which troops can attack other key points in the region that form the backbone of Ukraine's eastern defenses. Victor Trehubov, a Ukrainian military spokesperson, denied Russia's claim. 'Just a fabrication, there wasn't even a change in the situation,' he told The Associated Press. A report on Thursday from Ukraine's Army General Staff said there were seven clashes in Chasiv Yar in the past 24 hours. An attached map showed most of the town as being under Russian control. DeepState, an open-source Ukrainian map widely used by the military and analysts, showed early Thursday that neighborhoods to the south and west of Chasiv Yar remained as so-called gray zones, or uncontrolled by either side. The attack targeted the Kyiv, Dnipro, Poltava, Sumy, Mykolaiv regions, with Ukraine's capital being the primary target, President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on Telegram. 'Today, the world once again saw Russia's answer to our desire for peace with America and Europe,' Zelensky said. 'New demonstrative killings. That is why peace without strength is impossible.' He called on Ukraine's allies to follow through on defense commitments and pressure Moscow toward real negotiations. President Trump said Tuesday that he's giving Russian President Vladimir Putin a shorter deadline — Aug. 8 — for peace efforts to make progress, or Washington will impose punitive sanctions and tariffs. Western leaders have accused Putin of dragging his feet in U.S.-led peace efforts in an attempt to capture more Ukrainian land. Kullab writes for the Associated Press. Vasilisa Stepanenko and Illia Novikov contributed to this report.
4 days ago
Russian missile and drone attack hits Ukrainian capital Kyiv, killing 8 people and wounding 82
KYIV, Ukraine -- Russia attacked Ukraine's capital with missiles and drones overnight, killing at least eight people, including a 6-year-old boy, and wounding 82 others, Ukrainian authorities said Thursday. Ten children, the youngest being a 5-month-old girl, were among the injured, Kyiv City Military Administration head Tymur Tkachenko said. A large part of a nine-story residential building collapsed after it was struck, he said. Rescue teams were at the scene searching for people trapped under the rubble. Yana Zhabborova, 35, a resident of the damaged building, woke up to the sound of thundering explosions, which blew off the doors and windows of her home. 'It is just stress and shock that there is nothing left,' said Zhabborova, a mother of a 5-month-old infant and a 5-year-old child. Russia fired 309 Shahed and decoy drones, and eight Iskander-K cruise missiles overnight, the Ukrainian air force said. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted and jammed 288 strike drones and three missiles. Five missiles and 21 drones struck targets. Meanwhile, Russia's Ministry of Defense said Thursday that it had shot down 32 Ukrainian drones overnight. A drone attacked had sparked a blaze at an industrial site in Russia's Penza region, local Gov. Oleg Melnichenko said. He didn't immediately give further details other than to say that there were no casualties. In the Volgograd region, some trains were also halted after drone wreckage fell on local railway infrastructure, state rail operator Russian Railways said. Russia's Defense Ministry also said that its forces took full control of the strategically important city of Chasiv Yar in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region. Russian and Ukrainian troops have battled for control of Chasiv Yar for nearly 18 months. It includes a hilltop from which troops can attack other key points in the region that form the backbone of Ukraine's eastern defenses. Victor Trehubov, a Ukrainian military spokesperson, told The Associated Press that Russia's claim was untrue. 'Just a fabrication, there wasn't even a change in the situation," he said. A report on Thursday from Ukraine's Army General Staff said there were seven clashes in Chasiv Yar in the past 24 hours. An attached map showed most of the town as being under Russian control. DeepState, an open-source Ukrainian map widely used by the military and analysts, showed early Thursday that neighborhoods to the south and west of Chasiv Yar remained as so-called gray zones, or uncontrolled by either side. The attack targeted the Kyiv, Dnipro, Poltava, Sumy, Mykolaiv regions, with Ukraine's capital being the primary target, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram. 'Today, the world once again saw Russia's answer to our desire for peace with America and Europe,' Zelenskyy said. 'New demonstrative killings. That is why peace without strength is impossible.' He called on Ukraine's allies to follow through on defense commitments and pressure Moscow toward real negotiations. Plumes of smoke emanating from a partially damaged building and debris strewn on the ground. The force of the blast wave was powerful enough to leave clothes hanging limply from trees. At least 27 locations across Kyiv were hit by the attack, Tkachenko said, with the heaviest damage seen in the Solomianskyi and Sviatoshynskyi districts. More than 100 buildings were damaged in Kyiv, including homes, schools, kindergartens, medical facilities and universities, he said. U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he's giving Russian President Vladimir Putin a shorter deadline — Aug. 8 — for peace efforts to make progress, or Washington will impose punitive sanctions and tariffs. in an attempt to capture more Ukrainian land.
