BROKEN ARROW, Okla. - The Broken Arrow Police Department is mourning the loss of one of its own, Monday. Dash, a former K-9 Officer, was put to rest after battling a brain tumor.
Ask anyone at the department and they will say Dash wasn't just a dog, but an important asset to the team.
"Of all the things he could've done in life, being a police dog is what he was meant to do," said Sgt. Steven Smith.
K-9 Officer Dash spent nearly nine years on the job, serving and protecting. It wasn't just his heroic call to duty that made him stand out. It was his adoring personality. After a long day's work of catching the bad guys, Dash was eager to get back to the station to flaunt his success.
"He really loved being praised by everybody for all the good work that he did, and so he really craved a lot of attention," said Sgt. Smith. "He was kind of an attention hound."
Although Sgt. Smith and Dash were partners on the clock, their relationship didn't stop there. The duo lived in sync 24/7.
Dash retired a year and a half ago when his health started to decline. Recently, he began having seizures, which led to a stroke.
"I could see that his time was short, and he was having a significant drop of in the quality of his life and struggling with the situation that he was in, " said Sgt. Smith.
Sgt. Smith says he knew it was time. He could no longer watch Dash struggle. He made the noble decision to put the dog to rest.
Sgt. Smith says Dash was family. Monday, BAPD offered their deepest condolences to Sgt. Smith, while remembering Dash as a true "guardian of the night."
Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere.
Download our free app for Apple and Android and Kindle devices.
Sign up for newsletters emailed to your inbox. Select from these options: Breaking News, Severe Weather, School Closings, Daily Headlines and Daily Forecasts.
