IN MEMORY—John Hesson, center, is emotional during a ceremony recognizing his donation of $22,000 to purchase a new patrol dog for the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department. Dep. John Nicolas, left, and Sheriff Bob Brooks, right, took part in the recent ceremony. John Hesson tears up at the memory of his wife, Renee.

The Camarillo woman lost her longtime battle with cancer Dec. 28, leaving behind her husband of 43 years and their two grown sons.

“You couldn’t ask for a better woman than she was,” the 75- year-old retired construction worker said, his voice breaking.

To honor the memory of his wife and recognize the couple’s love for animals, Hesson recently donated $22,000 to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department K- 9 Foundation.

The nonprofit group used the donation to purchase and train a new German shepherd for police work.

Named Renate—Renee’s full name—the dog will complete its training today and is expected to begin patrol duties alongside Moorpark Police Dep. John Nicolas on Monday.

“I think it shows great community support on his part, and it’s heartwarming to see a man who, in honor of his deceased wife, donates a dog in her honor,” said Sgt. Vince Camou, head of the department’s K-9 unit. “It’s very touching.”

Hesson said his wife would have loved that he donated the money for a dog that will benefit the entire community.

“We thought it would be a good idea because they needed a K-9 unit and we both loved animals.”

A veteran of both the Army— he served in Korea—and the Air Force, Hesson moved with his wife to Camarillo in 1954 while he was stationed at the Air Force base that is now the Camarillo Airport.

At the time he wanted to join the Port Hueneme Police Department, he said, but he was too short to apply. Years later, when the department lowered its height requirement, Hesson was 42 and too old to apply.

“I just missed the mark all the way around,” Hesson said with a chuckle.

He and his wife raised both of their sons in Camarillo. He eventually retired from his construction job, leaving the couple enough time to travel. Their destinations included Europe, Mexico and Hawaii.

“We loved to travel, and we always had a great time no matter where we went,” Hesson said.

In addition to travel, Hesson and his wife shared a love for animals. Although the pair didn’t have any dogs, they recognized the importance of police dogs working for the sheriff’s department, which is a big reason he made the donation.

Hesson also donated $2,000 to the Ventura County Animal Shelter in Camarillo and $500 to the Ventura County Fire Department.

Camou said the money makes it possible to retire one of the unit’s older dogs.

“This dog was replacing one of the six patrol dogs,” Camou said. “It’s replacing a dog that had about seven years’ patrol time and was due to retire.”

The retired dogs become the pets of the officers they partnered with.

Finding the money to replace and train dogs, Camou said, is one of the biggest challenges the foundation faces, especially in tough economic times.

The K-9 unit does not receive funding from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department to pay for the seven dogs within the department.

The department has six German shepherds that work with patrol deputies and one Labrador that is used to search for contraband and drugs at the county’s two jails.

The sergeant said the department pays for the deputies but does not cover purchase of the animals, medical care or food.

A dog costs about $9,000 to buy and another $13,000 in training. Food and medicine for the dogs costs thousands a year, he said.

“Our fundraising is a constant,” Camou said.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department K-9 Foundation will host its sixth annual golf tournament Mon., Sept. 13 at Moorpark Country Club. The tournament begins at 9 a.m. and includes lunch, a silent auction and prizes.

For more information, call (805) 947-8149 or visit www.vcsdk9.org.