Staff and roughly 500 students of El Roble Elementary School honored Gilroy Police Department K-9 Pharaoh and his handler, Corporal Paco Rodriguez at a special all-school assembly Wednesday.
Cpl. Rodriguez and Pharaoh were the first officers to respond to an intruder alarm at 2 a.m. March 28 at the school, which is located at 930 Third St. in Gilroy.
Juan Webster-Abina, 18, from Goleta, CA, and two juveniles from Gilroy were arrested as the trio were looting classrooms.
“I explained to everyone what had happened,” said El Roble Principal Scott Otteson. “It was a good message for the kids here.”
Students wrote letters to Cpl. Rodriguez and Pharaoh expressing their thanks for catching the burglars. Families of El Roble Elementary students also donated dog toys, treats and a large comfy bed for Pharaoh, said teacher Kimberley Krejdovsky.
Students posed for photos with Pharaoh and asked Cpl. Rodriguez what it was like having a K-9 living at home with his family, Otteson said.
“It was a real positive for the students,” Otteson added. “It was very interesting.”
