(La Vergne, Tenn.) In honor of K9 Veterans Day local non-profit Purple Paws presented a plaque to the City of La Vergne and Officer Justin Darby in honor of his fallen K-9 partner, Sjaak (pron: Jacques).

Members of the Purple Paws board presented the plaque in memory of K-9 officer Sjaak at La Vergne’s City Hall on Saturday, March 13. Mayor Jason Cole and Interim Police Chief Chip Davis accepted the plaque on behalf of Officer Darby. Sjaak passed away last November after being shot while he and his handler, Officer Darby, were leaving the La Vergne Police Department.

Officer Darby recently visited U.S. K-9 Unlimited in Abbeville, Louisiana to spend time with K-9s who are in training to be police K-9s. He selected Turbo, a year-and-a-half old Belgian Malinois. Turbo and Officer Darby will be training together in April and Turbo will be sworn-in at a later date.

Purple Paws is a local non-profit that is dedicated to raising funds to assist domestic, non-domestic, and service animal charities along with spay/neuter programs throughout Middle Tennessee.