Holly MatkinCarthage, NC – Moore County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) K9 Roki died on Oct. 9 after a brief illness, according to his department.
The Czech Shepherd’s exact cause of death was not immediately released.
“We are terribly saddened to report the death of our beloved K9, Roki, who died yesterday after a brief, but serious illness,” the MCSO said in a press release on Oct. 10.
The sheriff’s office said K9 Roki was a “very valuable member” of the MCSO team.
Just one month earlier, at approximately 2:28 a.m. on Sept. 11, the MCSO received a report of an elderly woman who had wandered away from her home in the Carthage community, the sheriff’s office said in a previous press release.
Deputies were told that the woman was possibly suffering from a cognitive disorder.
K9 Roki and his human partner, MCSO Deputy Kevin Dean, responded to the scene and began tracking the woman’s route from her home.
Despite the dark, rainy conditions, the heroic K9 was able to locate the woman in a nearby field within 40 minutes of deputies first arriving at the scene.
“That dog took a hard left turn [and] went off into the field,” Deputy Dean told WRAL.
As he led them to the woman, deputies used flashlights to see above the grass and were barely able to make out the top of her head, Deputy Dean recalled.
The deputies helped the woman to her feet and took her back to safety as K9 Roki looked on, WRAL reported.
“This was a great effort by all Deputies involved and the victim was returned to her family safe and secure,” the MCSO said at the time.
The sheriff’s office said it will deeply miss its four-legged officer.
“Please keep Roki’s Handler, Deputy Kevin Dean, and other members of the Moore County Sheriff’s Office in your thoughts and prayers,” the MCSO said.
We are saddened to report the death of beloved K9 Roki who died Sunday after a brief, but serious illness.
Roki was a valuable member of the Moore County Sheriff’s Office. Please keep Roki’s Handler, Deputy Kevin Dean, and other members of the MCSO in your prayers. pic.twitter.com/Vm6rfxBOaE
— Vested Interest in K9s (@VIK9s) October 11, 2022
Great Job, #K9 Roki
" #K9s in #lawenforcement and #rescue operations continue to prove their worth. That was the case recently in #MooreCounty where a woman with cognitive issues went missing in the dark of night. "#police #policek9 #k9unit #k9handler #vestedinterestink9s #vik9s pic.twitter.com/c4DXp6Cfdh— Vested Interest in K9s (@VIK9s) September 18, 2022
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Moore County Sheriff’s Office and Deputy Dean in the loss of K9 Roki.
Sandy Malone
