Retired veteran SAPS K9 officer Lieutenant Jack Haskins died on 10/27/23. Haskins had been involved in the Midmar Mile and Dusi Canoe Marathon, rescues, drownings around the province and rescues in disaster zones. After serving the KwaZulu-Natal community since 1977, he retired from the SA Police Services in 2016. Haskins has had an illustrious career in the police service, bringing peace to hundreds of families by locating their relatives’ bodies in sometimes very difficult conditions. Haskins who was praised for his work in the SAPS K9 unit has been described as a hero who will be dearly missed. He touched many lives and was a mentor to many in the K9 unit. His contributions to the world of K9 operations have left an indelible mark on both his home country and the global search and rescue community. One of his most notable achievements was the creation of the South African Search and Rescue Dog Association (SASARDA). This organization was founded to train and certify search and rescue dogs and their handlers to the highest standards. Under Jack Haskins’ guidance, SASARDA became a model of excellence, ensuring that search and rescue teams could effectively and efficiently respond to emergencies. He cooperated with search and rescue teams from around the world, sharing his expertise and learning from their experiences. This collaboration made him a respected figure not only in South Africa but on the global stage, where his impact was truly immeasurable. The work of Lt. Haskins and the K9 units he nurtured has been instrumental in locating missing persons during natural disasters, finding survivors trapped in the rubble of collapsed buildings, and aiding in criminal investigations by tracking down evidence. Their efforts have brought solace to countless families and justice to many. Specialising in biological body fluids detection, K9 Butch was trained and handled by Haskins for 12 years and was the first of three dogs specializing in biological body fluids in the province. Butch aided many forensic teams in solving high-profile cases as he was specially trained in finding small amounts of blood or other bodily fluids at crime scenes. He also assisted in many high-profile cases which are still under investigation. He was the lead K9 in the investigation of a woman who had been murdered by her husband on the South Coast. The crime scene was four years old, but Butch managed to trace a small amount of blood that had soaked into the foot of a cupboard. Jack received the coveted SAPS Silver Cross for Bravery for saving victims trapped in the 1987 floods. His K9 Orca received the SAPS Canine and Equine Star for Bravery. His K9 partners were Rolf, Orca, Udain, Vos, Bear and Butch. He was married to his wife Vesta for 26 years who died of cancer in 2010. He leaves behind a son, Jack Jr. 38, and a daughter Samantha, 34.
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