Service Puppy Named for Fallen Correctional Officer

The newest future service dog to arrive at the Maryland Correctional Institution-Hagerstown is eliciting some tears for more than his cuteness.

The black Labrador is named Turner in honor of the late Lieutenant Bryan Turner, a 27-year veteran correctional officer and former director of the America’s VetDogs program at Maryland Correctional Institution – Hagerstown. The canines are trained by inmates at the facility to aid disabled veterans.

Turner was killed in a motorcycle accident last year and his family is sponsoring the new dog. After Turner’s death his family asked mourners to contribute the $6,000 needed to sponsor the dog in lieu of flowers.

The puppies in the program are trained by selected inmates at the institution under the direction of America’s VetDogs staff then placed with the wounded American veterans.

The department is grateful for the years of service by Turner, who had just retired prior to his fatal crash.