Holly MatkinRacine County, WI – Racine County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO) K9 Murphy died on March 31 after suffering a medical emergency while at home.
The 10-year-old Belgian Malinois was immediately transported to a veterinarian by his human partner, Racine County Sheriff’s Deputy David Fisher, the RCSO said in a press release on April 13.
“There was nothing that could be done,” the sheriff’s office said. “K-9 Murphy, surrounded by his family, was humanely put to sleep.”
The exact nature of K9 Murphy’s medical emergency was not released.
K9 Murphy was born in Hungary on Aug. 10, 2012.
He and Deputy Fisher were paired up at the Southern Police Canine Facility in North Carolina in October of 2013 and subsequently completed a rigorous six-week training course before they “hit the streets working the overnight shift protecting the community,” the RCSO said.
K9 Murphy, a dual-purpose police K9 trained in building search, narcotic detection, handler protection, criminal apprehension, tracking, and evidence/article search, racked up well over 2,500 training hours and deployed nearly 600 times during his career.
He apprehended numerous criminals during police pursuits, heroically saved Deputy Fisher from being attacked by violent suspects, and even located a suspect who tried to conceal himself underwater.
K9 Murphy was also a longtime member of the SWAT team and frequently assisted the Racine Sheriff’s Metro Drug Unit with serving search warrants.
“Over the last couple of years, Deputy Fisher and K-9 Murphy were primarily assigned to the training division where the team commonly assisted with community relations, conducted checks on schools and detention facilities for illegal drugs, and assisting on the streets when needed,” the RCSO said.
The duo was especially instrumental “in developing the Sheriff’s K9 Unit to its current status of professionalism and excellence,” the sheriff’s office added.
K9 Murphy was known for greeting everyone who came to the training division by presenting them with his “favorite ‘Kong’ while demanding attention,” according to his department.
“Everyone knows that K-9 Murphy’s favorite place to be was at work with his best friend, Dave,” the sheriff’s office said. “K-9 Murphy’s unexpected passing has placed a void in the Sheriff’s Office as well as with Deputy Fisher and his family.”
He and Deputy Fisher were planning to retire together at the end of 2023.
“While I am saddened over the loss of K-9 Murphy, I hope Deputy Fisher takes comfort in the tremendous service he and K-9 Murphy provided to the community,” Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling said.
“Their teamwork, training, and dedication took guns, drugs, and thugs off the streets – there is no way to measure the number of lives they saved,” Sheriff Schmaling continued. “K-9 Murphy lived a very full life. Thank you for your service, and you will be missed.”
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Racine County Sheriff’s Office and Deputy Fisher in the loss of K9 Murphy.
