Bakersfield Police Officer Trevor Jones' Service Continues On

Bakersfield, California, October 12, 2016 (Newswire.com) - ​​On March 20, 2012, just days before he was to be married, Bakersfield Police Officer Trevor Jones died from heart failure at the age of 23.  A few days prior to his death, Officer Jones was involved in an altercation with a suspect that many believe led to the young officer’s heart attack. Those who knew and worked with Officer Jones describe him as a great and caring person who truly believed he could help his community. 

Now through a unique and special program, the “Fallen Officers Puppy Program,” Trevor’s name has been passed on to a service dog in training as it too dedicates its efforts to helping people in need.  Service Dogs by Warren Retrievers, “SDWR,” a non-profit organization based in Madison, Virginia, has named a puppy in training, “Trevor” after Officer Jones.  What began in 2008 as an organization that bred and trained scent dogs, specifically Labrador Retrievers, for federal and local law enforcement work, SDWR’s mission expanded in 2010 with the goal to provide service dogs to people who cope with the challenges of living with an invisible disability such as Diabetes, Autism, Seizure Disorder or PTSD.  Now it is one of the largest service dog providers in the country with 500 dogs working around the US and across the globe.

Dan Warren, Founder and President of SDWR developed the Fallen Officer Puppy Program, “FOPP,” in early 2016.  “I wanted to find a way to pay tribute to the officers who have given the ultimate sacrifice, who paid the ultimate price in service to the community,” says Warren.  “My work with scent dogs brought me in contact with many of our nation’s law enforcement officers and I truly was blessed to meet and get to know so many of them.  This program is my Organization’s way of saying ‘thank you’ for your service,” states Dan Warren.

Officer Jones was nominated for the FOPP project by David Lidgett, a resident and member of the Bakersfield Sheriff Department.  Mr. Lidgett is also working with SDWR to obtain a diabetic alert dog for his son, Elijah.  “Through working with SDWR to get a service dog for my son, I learned about this wonderful legacy project.  I immediately thought of honoring Trevor and submitted my request to the organization,” said Lidgett, “I was thrilled when Mr. Warren gave me the call that a puppy in training was being named after Trevor.”  “Trevor was known not only as a fine young police officer, but also as a person who truly supported and encouraged young people—he was often at local high school sports events cheering on the kids.  It’s so fitting that a service dog that will someday help a child in need is named after him,” adds Lidgett. 

In Virginia, a Golden Retriever puppy has been named Trevor and it has already started its training in the invisible disabilities service field.  “Trevor will receive thousands of hours of training and receive his public access certification in accordance with ADA law,” states Warren.  “He will be placed with a child coping with a disability such as Autism or Seizure Disorder.  Trevor will go everywhere with the child, from school to shopping trips, even trips to the doctor or dentist.” 

SDWR trains purebred Labrador and Golden Retrievers that will detect when an adult or child is entering a medically unsafe zone.  Medical alert dogs help provide independence, peace of mind, and can improve quality of life.  SDWR provides focused training and screening for the dogs prior to placing them in a home.  The dogs are matched with their person based on their temperament and personality, the family culture and environment as well as the individual medical needs.  SDWR’s program is comprised of an initial family-focused, in-home training session that includes program-based training and daily education.  It is followed by several subsequent training sessions with a trainer to provide on-going support for families who have taken a medical alert dog into their home for life-saving monitoring and support.

Warren states that there are dozens of families in California who have a service dog from SDWR or are waiting to receive one from the company.  Families like the Lidgetts, who enrolled in the SDWR program about one year ago.  Dave Lidgett acknowledges the huge support he and his family have received from the community in their fundraising efforts to obtain son Elijah’s service dog.  On October 15, the Lidgetts along with SDWR are hosting a clay shoot tournament at Five Dogs Shooting Range in Bakersfield.  It is hoped that the proceeds from this event will take the Lidgett family over-the-top in the fundraising goals. 

“It feels like naming a puppy in training after Officer Jones is bringing SDWR full circle in the Bakersfield community,” states Warren.“ We have a very active SDWR chapter in that area with several of our dogs already working there, as well as families like the Lidgetts who are soon to receive a dog from us.  The Bakersfield community holds a special place in the hearts of the SDWR team, so it’s an honor for us to have one of our future service dogs named for Officer Trevor Jones.”

For more information about SDWR, please visit the website http://www.sdwr.org.  For information on SDWR Diabetic Alert Dogs visit http://www.sdwr.org/service-dogs/diabetic-alert/ and for information on the Fallen Officer Puppy Program, please visit http://www.sdwr.org/fallen-officer-puppy-program/.

Source: Service Dogs by Warren Retrievers