Putnamville trooper commended for saving family pet

Monday, January 25, 2016

PUTNAMVILLE -- On any given day, Indiana State Police troopers respond to various requests for help from the public both on and off-duty. Most often the requests are for the citizens themselves, but at times, the requests are for family pets.

Such was the case on the evening of Friday, Jan. 8. ISP Trooper Ted Robertson was off-duty when he received a request to rescue a stranded black Labrador retriever on the east bank of the Wabash River directly east of Cayuga's Duke Energy Power Plant.

State Police Trooper Ted Robertson and "Diesel" on the night of the rescue.

The Duke Energy Plant is in Vermillion County and the dog was in Parke County separated by the Wabash River. Without hesitation, Trooper Robertson hitched up his personal boat, a 17-foot Lund fishing model, and headed to the public access boat ramp near Lodi along State Road 234 in Parke County.

At the ramp, Robertson met Don and Sandy Knauer, owners of the pet named "Diesel," and friends Zeke and Renae Norman. Renae is the person who requested help from Trooper Robertson.

The boat was launched and the group quickly navigated south in the darkness for about a mile with the time nearing 7 p.m. As they reached the area adjacent to the power plant and called "Diesel" for mere seconds, the dog enthusiastically appeared at the boat and was rescued.

According to the Knauer family, a thunderstorm had frightened "Diesel" on Dec. 26, and the pet fled the family home through an unsecured door.

The family posted flyers around the town of Cayuga and put the information out through social media, to no avail. Then, on Jan. 8, while working near the west bank of the Wabash River, Duke Energy employee Zeke Norman, noticed a black dog barking on the east bank of the river. He provided the information to his wife Renae, who then notified the Knauer family that the black dog may be "Diesel."

It was never determined when or how "Diesel" arrived on the east bank of the river, as the family resides on the west side of the river.

With the high water of the river and the falling temperatures, the family was working feverishly to secure a rescue for "Diesel." After contacting various law enforcement agencies and organizations and not finding help, Renae contacted Trooper Robertson directly and he immediately responded without hesitation.

As the result of the incident, the Knauer family sent a letter of appreciation to the command staff at the Putnamville Post.

"Trooper Robertson's actions and willingness to use his personal resources to secure the rescue of 'Diesel' goes beyond the norm and exemplifies the meaning of a public servant," commented Lt. Dan Jones, commander of the Putnamville District.

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  • Awesome job Trooper Robertson....a real hero, Thank you for your service to our community!

    -- Posted by jdtroutt71 on Tue, Jan 26, 2016, at 8:16 AM
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