Holly MatkinCullman, AL – Cullman County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) K9 Figo died in the line of duty on Jan. 5 due to complications from injuries he suffered in a motor vehicle crash nearly one year prior.
K9 Figo and his human partner, CCSO Deputy Adam Clark, were responding to a call on Feb. 11, 2020, when their patrol vehicle slid out of control on the wet roadway near Highway 69 and County Road 8 in Breman, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page.
The vehicle traveled off of a ravine, leaving K9 Figo and Deputy Clark critically injured.
Investigators were unable to pinpoint the crashed vehicle’s GPS until nearly one hour after the collision, WBRC reported.
Deputy Clark and K9 Figo both spent the ensuing months working to recover from their injuries.
CCSO K9 Program Supervisor Lieutenant Matthew Bales had been trying to rehabilitate K9 Figo since the crash, the department said in a Facebook post.
But on Jan. 5, the three-year-old Belgian Malinois succumbed to complications of his injuries, the CCSO said.
Deputy Clark was able to return to full duty one week after K9 Figo’s death, WBRC reported.
“While it may be bittersweet due to the recent passing of Figo, Adam is ready to be back,” the department said in another Facebook post.
K9 Figo and Deputy Clark carried out multiple arrests and removed large quantities of narcotics from Cullman County during their years of service together.
“K9 Figo will be missed,” the CCSO said.
Please keep Cullman County Sheriff's Deputy Adam Clark & K9 Figo in your thoughts and prayers. Both were injured in a wreck this morning.
Clark was taken to a Huntsville hospital with critical injuries. His K9, Figo, was taken to a local veterinarian and is in stable condition. pic.twitter.com/FONv0UUt47
— K9s of Valor (@k9sofvalor) February 11, 2020
🚨UPDATE
Deputy Adam Clark remains in the ICU in critical condition. However, he is showing signs of improvement despite the swelling of his brain.K9 Figo is stable at the specialty vet hospital, where he is being treated for heart & spine issues.
Please keep praying for both. pic.twitter.com/uJ44rncerg
— K9s of Valor (@k9sofvalor) February 13, 2020
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Clark, and Lt. Bales in the loss of K9 Figo.
Sandy Malone
