On April 28, 1998 K9 Gator, partner of Deputy Ed Shea and a member of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Canine Unit, was killed while tracking an armed robbery suspect on Hwy 92 in Seffner, Florida. K9 Gator was killed instantly as he tracked across the roadway by a vehicle traveling 60 MPH which approached rapidly and undetected by Deputy Shea. K9 Gator and Deputy Shea worked together for approximately 3 Years and was dual certified in Patrol and Narcotic detection. K9 Gator was the first K9 to be killed in the line of duty since our unit was founded in 1966. K9 Gator was buried with honors outside our canine office at the Vandenburg Airport Facility, and a marker will be erected in his memory.