DakotaNorth's Blog

On February 19, 2006, Azeem, Philadelphia's first cadaver-sniffing caninie died of natural causes.

Azeem died in the home that he shared with his human partner and handler, Officer Paul Bryant and the rest of the Bryant family. He was a black and rust German Shepherd, who was born on May 22, 1995. Azeem was picked from an early age to be a part of the K9 Unit, and at the age of 3, after a rigorous three week cadaver-sniffing course, he graduated and became a full fledged police officer.

During his eight year career, Azeem participated in the recovery at Ground Zero at the World Trade Centers after 9/11, and in 2001, he quickly discovered the body of a missing New Jersey woman who was buried behind a basement wall in Philadelphia's Society Hill.

In 2001, Azeem won the prestigious Case Of The Year award, which is given by the United States Police Canine Association. He was the first cadaver-sniffing dog to win the coveted national prize, and the first dog from the Philadelphia area. The case that ensured his win was the case of the missing New Jersey woman.

Azeem was a special and beautiful dog and officer. He will surely be missed. May he watch over and guard the police officers of America.