A dedicated servant to his country and his community, retired Reading Police K-9 handler and instructor, David “Gabe” Gabrielli, poured himself into everything he did. On March 31, 2026, he died unexpectedly at home at the age of 72. He was more than his job title. He was a father to Daniel and Brittany, the cultural bearer of his Italian roots, a mentor, coach, handyman, avid sports fan, a lover of German Shepherds, and a loyal friend. From his former co-workers in law enforcement to his fellow soldiers, the Reading community, and his friends, news of his passing left those who knew him speechless.
David dedicated his life to a higher calling both personally and professionally. Through it all, he lived his life, not just for himself, but for those around him. The poet Linda Ellis wrote in her poem, The Dash, “…what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.” In his 72 years on earth, David’s “dash” left a lasting impact on those who knew him. He never gave up. He simply redirected his energy. It was this mindset he instilled in his children. If you fail, get back up and try again.
Born February 17, 1954, David grew up in a blue-collar family with his parents and four sisters. After high school, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and deployed to Vietnam, where he sustained an injury within days of arriving. After he returned to duty, he accepted a “new piece” of military equipment: a K-9 named Sgt. Major. After training, together they patrolled jungles and villages, performed joint military operations with the United States Navy, and jumped in tandem out of helicopters where the two landed in remote locations of Southeast Asia. When his tour ended, Sgt. Major transferred to a new handler because Sgt. Major was “military-issued equipment,” and David left Vietnam with only memories of the war and their work, but it set David on a career path for the rest of his life. After his discharge from the Marine Corps, he enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve and then switched to the PA National Guard before retiring from the military after twenty-nine years in 2002.
While serving in the military, David also joined the Reading Police Department in 1980, where he served 14-1/2 years as a K-9 officer and instructor. During his years of service, he partnered with three dogs, though his first, Max, never went on patrol because the Chief eliminated the position. Max became a family pet. Eventually, the K-9 department was re-established, and David partnered with Blitz and Fax.
Throughout the years, David and his K-9 partners were responsible for clearing crowds of hundreds, escorting and protecting VIPs in Pennsylvania’s fifth-largest city, patrolling the city streets, conducting routine building searches, searching for explosives, and performing scent work. He bonded closely with his dogs and knew that to be successful, he would need to continuously educate himself and train his dogs. He did so without hesitation, often for no pay. He undertook explosive detection and K-9 instructor courses through the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Department in Syracuse, NY, where, to receive his instructor certification, he had to show proficiency in K-9 obedience, tracking, area searches, building searches, criminal apprehension, and dog psychology. He went on to learn basic first aid for law enforcement canines sponsored by the Capital District Veterinary Surgical Associates and Nutramax Laboratories in Patterson, New York.
His quest for knowledge did not end with direct training but also with perfecting the symbiotic relationship of trust and loyalty with his K-9 partners. This journey led him to New Skete Monastery in Cambridge, NY, where the monks train dogs as a way of earning money. They teach patience and respect and strive to master basic obedience, understand a dog’s mind, tackle behaviors, reward through praise, and enhance the bond between handler and dog. Though David did not undergo formal training with the monks, he learned enough from his short stay with them to use the knowledge with his own dogs to keep them happy and obedient.
He trained his dogs to be calm even when outside their comfort zone. Environments like train stations, airports, factories, convention centers, sports arenas, elevators, escalators, sliding automatic doors, sirens, and indoor sprinklers are not normal for dogs, but he did well with them. He believed continuous practice, day and night, was necessary so the K-9s did not become spooked by different sights, sounds, shadows, and smells brought on by the nighttime.
He took what he learned and assisted new team members in establishing the same bond with their dog. His goal was a dog that could serve the needs of a police department in high-stress situations where focus was critical, but would also remain calm and obedient in public when not “working.” In order to achieve this, he educated the community. He introduced his K-9s to adults and children at special events. To help educate the children on the dog’s role in law enforcement, he created coloring books and word searches for them to enjoy, all in an effort to shine a positive light on the K-9 department. He was instrumental in the success of the Reading K-9 division.
While working at Reading, Dave attended Alvernia College, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He also served on the Board of Directors and later as President for the Pennsylvania Police Canine Association, an organization to advance police service dogs in America.
During the terror attacks of September 11th, 2001, an urgent request went out to the participants attending a K-9 training class in Johnstown, PA, to assist in the search for explosives and survivors after the hijacked United Airlines Flight 93 jet crashed in Shanksville, Somerset County, PA. David and Fax were among the teams that responded.
After retiring from the Reading Police Department in 2008, David joined the Berks County Sheriff’s Office in hopes of continuing his career as an instructor, but the Sheriff’s Office went in another direction with their K-9 team. It was here that I first met him through my husband, Bruce, also a Deputy Sheriff. They quickly became friends, trusting each other with their lives. For that, I am forever thankful.
When David’s two personal German Shepherds had a litter, he noticed a distinct personality difference in one and named him Leo, short for law enforcement officer. Leo was quiet but loved people. Still desiring a working dog, David trained Leo through a local sponsor of a national therapy dog association based in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Both David and Leo needed to pass a skills and disposition evaluation. Leo also needed to be good around other dogs, children, infirm individuals, medical equipment, carts, wheelchairs, walkers, gurneys, elevators, and much more. Working with Leo allowed him to channel his training and love for dogs while also continuing to help people. Leo was therapeutic and helped to reduce patients’ phobias in hospital settings. Leo, the therapy K-9, and David were inseparable. They visited nursing homes and hospitals twice a month for 1–1½ hours maximum. Together, with the hospital’s permission, they visited patients in most wards, including pediatrics, emergency, intensive care, and the cardiac care units, unless the patient was in isolation or eating. Leo would climb gingerly up beside a child and settle right down. Through his training, Leo knew not to touch the IVs or disrupt medical devices.
David told me during a 2013 interview, “It is incredible. I have had children ask me if Leo could stay the night. It is such a great feeling to see how happy people are to see Leo. He loves people, and parents love to see their sick or injured child smile. Older patients tell stories of dogs they had while stroking Leo’s coat and rubbing his face. His visits made all patients respond better to everyone in the room, even those with memory issues. It was just so remarkable and so humbling.”
Leo even accompanied David to the courthouse, where they both helped calm the fears of children caught up in traumatic cases. When not working in law enforcement, David was the neighborhood handyman, his children’s hero, and the best friend a person could have. Many people will remember him as Reading’s German Shepherd man. No matter where David was, his German Shepherd was close by…even at church.
David Gabrielli took the horrible circumstances of war and turned them around to find his niche. There was not a day that went by that he regretted accepting the Corps’ new piece of equipment. Had it not been for the circumstances presented to him 40 years ago and the training he had with his canine partner, Sergeant Major, his life could easily have taken another turn. Instead, he nurtured his knowledge of dogs, sought training and organizations to join, and made it his career. He helped his fellow soldiers in the jungles of Vietnam, helped his country during the 9/11 attacks, spent his career protecting the residents and City of Reading, and in his later years, he eased the stress of those in the hospital and nearing the end of their lives in a nursing home. Of his accomplishments in his work, he was most proud of being a loving father and hero to his children. Brittany: never forget your dinner dates and his crazy life stories, the Italian cooking, and birthday operas. Never stop loving German Shepherds, an obsession inherited from your dad. Daniel: Never forget how supportive your dad was throughout your life, especially the support he gave you while attending Sandhurst. Never forget his life lessons and cherish the words “it is what it is.” In case he never told you, he always shared how proud he was of you both.
"What mattered most of all was the dash between those years. That dash represents all the time that they spent alive on earth. And now only those who loved them know what that little line is worth. For it matters not how much we own, the cars…the house…the cash. What matters is how we live and love and how we spend our dash.” Linda Ellis, The Dash.David Gabrielli, your “dash” mattered. Rest in peace, my friend.
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