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Roseville Team Swims For Injured Police Dog

By John Lauritsen, WCCO-TV

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- By their own admission, the Roseville Area Boys Swim Team is having an average year.

"It's a building year," said senior captain Noah Bergman.

But there is nothing average about what they are doing for their local police department, especially for a certain K9.

Major, a police dog, has been Officer John Jorgensen's partner for more than 7 years. In November, while chasing a burglary suspect, Major was beaten with a crowbar to the point that his back legs are now paralyzed, and his K-9 career is over.

"He's adjusting to not only not being a police dog anymore, and not having the use of his back legs anymore," said Officer Jorgensen.

"I was watching the news and I saw a story about Major. That's Roseville police, that's us. They take care of us. They have been to a few calls over the years," said Coach Andy Hanson.

Hanson, whose also a first responder, was so taken with Major's story that he and his team turned this season's "Winter Swimathon" into a Major fundraiser.

"This was twice a normal practice. For the rest of the day I was laying around not doing anything. I was very tired," said senior captain Tom Chaffee.

The Swimathon was a grueling 5-hour practice in which team members swam more than five miles. They call it the 10,000 yard work-out, but a workout that was well-worth it. The Swimathon raised $1500, and half of that will go to Major for his rehabilitation.

"Usually it's just to swim it, why not? But this year it felt easier knowing you were raising money for the team and the police dog," said Bergman.

Personal Injury attorneys, Sieben, Grose, Von Holtum & Carey, and WCCO-TV made the Roseville boys swimmers the Community Spotlight Award winner this week. The team received a check for $500 for what they are doing for Major.

While we showed our appreciation, Major and his partner plan on doing the same thing.

"Something special -- high school athletes that understand what makes the world go round, and finding good causes to go out and do good things. It's very honorable and we are very appreciative. I will be at their swim meet on Feb. 10 to thank them in person," said Jorgensen.

Coach Hanson said the team will use the money they received from the Community Spotlight award to pay for their end of the year banquet and to help fund a swim meet they are competing in up north.

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