The County’s second dog park, located at 13000 Minnieville Road in Woodbridge, now is named for a largely unknown hero of the Police Department after the Board of County Supervisors today approved its new official name: “K-9 Gunner Memorial Park.”
Gunner, a seven-year-old German Shepherd who served on the Department’s K-9 Unit from 1999 to 2005, was killed in the line of duty on June 6, 2005. Police were trying to apprehend a suspect in the Woodbridge area when Gunner was struck by friendly fire. His ashes, along with those of 13 former Prince William County Police dogs, were buried in the police dog memorial cemetery on the grounds of the Prince William County Criminal Justice Academy later that month.
K-9 Gunner earned many awards and achievements during his service including the 3rd Quarter Patrol Dog award from the United States Police Canine Association (USPCA) in 2005; 1st Place Overall in the USPCA Region 3 Field Trials in 2003, where he also received the Patrick Cahill Award for his overall outstanding scores; and the USPCA’s Triple Crown award for certification in tracking, patrol and detection in 2002.
Officer VanAntwerp and K-9 Gunner
In addition to being a certified police canine, Gunner was also certified as a drug detection canine. He had just two handlers during his career: Officer James Ford from 1999-2001, and Officer Bill VanAntwerp from 2001-2005.
The dog park on Minnieville Road is the second one in the County – the first one opened in October 2012 and is located at the Prince William County Animal Shelter. The Minnieville Road dog park opened in May 2013. Community volunteers leased the land for $1 from the then-Prince William County Park Authority, and held several fundraisers to get the land fenced and ready for dogs. The K-9 Gunner Memorial Dog Park is open daily and closes at sunset.
