Law enforcement, community honor second Duluth police dog killed on duty

022821.N.DNT.K9LUNA.C01.JPG — Officers from the Duluth Police Department carry the coffin containing the body of Duluth Police K-9 Luna out of the BluePearl Pet Hospital in Lincoln Park Saturday morning. K-9 Luna was killed in the line of duty Thursday night. (Clint Austin / caustin@duluthnews.com)

By Andee Erickson

February 27, 2021 at 7:15 PM

through Duluth to honor the killed police dog Haas, law enforcement from around the region did the same on Saturday, this time for K-9 officer Luna.

File: K-9 Luna and Aaron Haller — Duluth Police Department K-9 officer Aaron Haller praises his newly trained dog, Luna, in 2019 in Superior. Luna is named after Luna Lovegood, a character in the "Harry Potter" series. (2019 file / Ellen Schmidt / News Tribune)

The 3-year-old Dutch shepherd joined the Duluth Police Department's K-9 unit less than two years ago, just five months after her handler, Duluth police officer Aaron Haller, lost Haas, his former K-9 partner. Both dogs were killed while responding to reports of domestic violence.

An armed suspect, who has since been identified as David Joseph Wayne Conwell, shot and killed Luna after Duluth police responded to a domestic violence report Thursday night in Lincoln Park.

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"She was really funny, very energetic, well behaved," said Hannah Hadland, who had met Luna at an event.

Hadland, of Superior, was one of approximately 100 people and about two dozen dogs who lined West Michigan Street outside the Essentia Health Duluth Heritage Sports Center to view the beginning of the procession, which began at the BluePearl Pet Hospital and ended at Fur-Ever Loved Pet Cremation Services in Scanlon.

Hadland attended the procession with her own Dutch shepherd, Daisy, who sat and watched as more than 100 law enforcement and civilian vehicles drove past, including a hearse carrying Luna's casket.

Barking was the only noise that carried down West Michigan Street as the motorcade passed through.

Many, like 10-year-old Westen Lancour of Duluth, held signs thanking Luna for her service.

"We want to show appreciation to Luna and we want to support police," Lancour said.

Dawn and William Midbrod, both of Two Harbors, watched with their St. Bernard from the parking lot of the Lincoln Park Kwik Trip.

"Luna is a police officer. We care very much about our law enforcement. They do so much to protect our community," Dawn Midbrod said.

Kia Vann, of Lincoln Park, expressed sympathy for officer Haller.

"I can't imagine being a dog owner and them protecting me and losing my dog twice," Vann said.

Area fire engines parked on Interstate-35 overpasses outside Duluth to adorn the procession.

More supporters lined the streets in Scanlon. After arriving at the cremation services center, officer Haller and his family stood around an open casket as law enforcement officers in uniform and others paid their respects. The public watched from the road above. A bouquet of flowers and a rawhide bone lined the casket.

One person was seen fighting back tears while petting Luna through the blanket she was covered with.

"She's been a great dog," "At home, she's very capable of turning the switch off. She's very good with the kids and wife 鈥� she's a lap dog basically. But then at work she's totally different."

Luna leaves behind two other Dutch shepherds in the Duluth Police Department's K-9 unit, according to the Northland K9 Foundation website. Their names are Hondo and Riggs.

1/11: Duluth Police Department K-9 officer Aaron Haller receives a hug at BluePearl Pet Hospital in Lincoln Park Saturday morning. Haller's police dog K-9 Luna was killed while responding to the scene of a domestic dispute in Duluth Thursday night. (Clint Austin / caustin@duluthnews.com)

2/11: Officers from the Duluth Police Department salute as the coffin containing K-9 Luna is moved to a hearse Saturday at BluePearl Pet Hospital in Lincoln Park. Luna died of gunshot wounds while responding to the scene of a domestic dispute in Duluth Thursday night. (Clint Austin / caustin@duluthnews.com)

3/11: People watch from an overpass as a procession of law enforcement vehicles travels south on I-35 on the way to Scanlon Saturday. The procession was for Duluth K-9 Luna who was killed in the line of duty earlier this week. (Clint Austin / caustin@duluthnews.com)

4/11: Allie Nyholm, 6, of Esko watches from an overpass on I-35 as a law enforcement procession for Duluth Police Department K-9 Luna travels south on I-35 Saturday. (Clint Austin / caustin@duluthnews.com)

5/11: The hearse carrying Duluth Police Department K-9 Luna travels south on I-35 on the way to Scanlon Saturday. Luna was killed while responding to a domestic dispute call in Duluth Thursday night. (Clint Austin / caustin@duluthnews.com)

6/11: Law enforcement vehicles fill Grand Avenue in West Duluth Saturday during a procession for Duluth Police Department K-9 Luna who was killed Thursday night. (Clint Austin / caustin@duluthnews.com)

7/11: Members of Duluth Police Department K-9 officer Aaron Haller's family say their final goodbyes to K-9 Luna at Fur-ever Loved Pet Cremation Services in Scanlon Saturday. Luna was killed responding to a domestic dispute in Duluth Thursday. (Clint Austin / caustin@duluthnews.com)

8/11: Duluth Police Department K-9 officer Aaron Haller's wife Holly Haller holds her daughter while viewing K-9 Luna at Fur-ever Loved Pet Cremation Services in Scanlon Saturday. Luna was killed responding to a domestic dispute in Duluth Thursday. This is the second K-9 the Haller family has lost in two years. (Clint Austin / caustin@duluthnews.com

9/11: Officers from the Duluth Police Department carry the coffin containing the body of Duluth Police K-9 Luna out of the BluePearl Pet Hospital in Lincoln Park Saturday morning. K-9 Luna was killed in the line of duty Thursday night. (Clint Austin / caustin@duluthnews.com)

10/11: Members of the Haller family hold hands as officers from the Duluth Police Department carry the coffin containing the body of Duluth Police K-9 Luna out of the BluePearl Pet Hospital in Lincoln Park Saturday morning. K-9 Luna was killed in the line of duty Thursday night. (Clint Austin / caustin@duluthnews.com)

11/11: The Esko fire department flies a large American flag on an overpass over I-35 during a law enforcement procession for Duluth Police Department K-9 Luna who was killed in the line of duty Thursday night. (Clint Austin / caustin@duluthnews.com)

By Andee Erickson

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Law enforcement, community honor second Duluth police dog killed on duty

More than 100 vehicles took part in the procession that traveled from Duluth to the pet cremation center in Scanlon.