Falls Twp. Police Remember K-9 Who Passed Away Last Month

Jessie wasn’t just Sgt. Sven Beauchmin’s loyal Belgian malinois, but also his partner on the beat.

The Falls Township Police Department and the Beauchmin family took time last Wednesday to remember the beloved police dog who served the community.

Falls Chief of Police Bill Wilcox, a dog lover himself, thanked the Beauchmin family for taking care of Jessie since she joined the department in 2004. He noted the difficulty of losing a K-9 officer as he spoke to a gathered group of about 30 people outside the dog park at Falls Township Community Park.

For Beauchmin, making the decision to put Jessie – his companion at home and while at work – down last month was a difficult one that was necessary due to worsening ailments, some that were likely exacerbated by her years of service.

Jessie was an explosives detecting dog who assisted federal agencies in protecting several presidents and major political candidates, including when then-President Barack Obama visited Gamesa in Fairless Hills in 2011.

Federal and regional law enforcement agencies knew who to call when they needed an explosives sweep. As part of her duties, Jessie traveled as far away as South America with Beauchmin to assist in sweeps.

“It’s tough,” Beauchmin said. “I spent more with Jessie than I did with my wife.”

Jessie was loyal and always by Beauchmin’s side. When he was at his desk in the police station, Jessie rested just steps away ready to respond to the latest call out or even greet anyone who stopped by the lawman’s work station.

Bob Harvie, the chairman of Falls Board of Supervisors, said the township purchased Jessie in 2004 to fill a need in an ever-changing world. Jessie often swept the New Jersey Transit trains parked at the yard that sits partly in Falls. She came of major assistance when the Republican National Convention was held in New York City and the Secret Service needed each New Jersey Transit train car checked for explosives before it headed to the city.

Aside from her duties of catching criminals and checking for explosives, Jessie was a public outreach tool for Falls police. It was not uncommon to see Beauchmin and Jessie at schools or community events.

In a 2013 visit profiled by LevittownNow.com, Jessie remained calm, cool and collected as a group of 20 kids at Penn Valley Elementary School rushed to pet her after a visit.

Jessie was Falls’ second K-9 unit after Dante, who was partnered with Lt. Hank Ward and was put down in 2011 after cancer took its toll.

Beauchmin said he wished to thank Flowers Mill Veterinary Hospital for assisting with Jessie.

Earlier this month, Jessie’s ashes were returned to the Beauchmin family in a custom container featuring an etching of the well-manner police dog and her police shield.