K9 officer Jason Lagore, 38, with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources died on 2/23/21 of an apparent heart attack while responding to a rescue at Rocky Point Lake in Highland County, Ohio. “He assisted on countless, countless search and rescues, bringing closure to families and also finding people and being able to help them. LaGore was trying to help a teenager, Keaira Scott, 16, who fell into icy water. Around 6:30 p.m., a 13-year-old brother started screaming for help near a private dock. A nearby contractor heard his cry and called 911. “I’m at Rocky Fork. I had some little kid come up to me and said his sister’s in the water dead,” the caller said. “He come running up to us saying, ‘Somebody please help me, please help me.'” The Paint Creek Joint Fire District responded to the scene. By the time our crews got there, she was under the ice. Additional units from Hamilton and Franklin counties were called to help. “The water was 36 degrees. The 16-year-old’s body was recovered about four-and-a-half hours later. The coroner said she drowned. Sometime during the rescue-recovery mission, LaGore fell in the water after suffering a medical emergency. First responders tried to save him. He died at the hospital. The Highland County Coroner said preliminary results indicate LaGore had a heart attack. LaGore began the K9 program for the division of parks and watercraft at ODNR and has since led the first K9 academy. Officer Lagore was a 2004 graduate of Hocking College with a degree in Wildlife Management. Lagore started his career at the Ohio Division of Parks & Watercraft in 2002 and became a Park Officer in 2005 assigned to Caesar Creek State Park in Warren County. He became a K9 handler in 2011 and worked two dogs, Ranger and Sarge. Officer LaGore not only was a K9 handler, he also trained each of the department’s dogs and handlers in narcotics detection work, cadaver work and tracking. Lagore and his first partner, K9 Ranger and current K9 partner Sarge are credited with countless finds and rescues. He had worked for ODNR for the past 15 years. He did a lot of training around all of Ohio. He worked with a lot of organizations with search and rescue. He is survived by his wife, Michelle, two small sons and his K9 partner, Sarge.
A memorial fund has been set up to help Officer Lagore’s family.
Donations can be made the following ways:
On Line at :
Cortland, OH 44410
