K-9 Schultz Now Part of Geno's Steaks' Path of Honor

PHILADELPHIA—K-9 Schultz was posthumously honored Wednesday by a man known around the Delaware Valley for his appreciation of law enforcement and love of animals.

The beloved K-9, killed in action on Nov. 30, 2010, now has a brick outside of world-famous Geno's Steaks, joining other police officers killed while on duty on Geno's owner Joey Vento's police memorial Path of Honor.

The brick was unveiled during a brief ceremony in South Philadelphia Wednesday morning. K-9 Schultz became the first police animal on the Path with the unveiling.

"The man clearly has a special place in his heart for law enforcement and animals," Gloucester Township Police Chief W. Harry Earle said of Vento.

That much was obvious when Vento made a $30,000 donation to the K-9 Schultz memorial fund, helping police fund additions to the K-9 unit and a future K-9 memorial at Gloucester Township Community Park.

"I'm an animal lover. That's my biggest thing," Vento told Patch in January.

Earle was joined at the ceremony by Mayor David Mayor, Schultz's handler, Cpl. Mark Pickard, and several other members of the township police force.

"It's certainly a very honorable thing (Vento) did for Schultz," Earle said. "When you see the honor, the sidewalk with the bricks, it really captured your attention that there are so many police officers who have been killed in the line of duty."

K-9 Schultz died on Route 42 in Blackwood while attempting to apprehend a robbery suspect. The police dog was struck by at least four cars, authorities said.

Two Washington Township men were indicted last week in connection with the robbery that led to the K-9's death—one was also charged with killing the dog. Also, Gov. Chris Christie signed into law on June 21 a measure spurred by Schultz's death that makes it mandatory for those found guilty of killing police dogs to serve five years in state prison.