Source The Southern Illinoisan, Ill.
MARION, IL — The Marion Police Department said goodbye on Monday to a four-legged officer who had served on the force for most of her life.
Loeki, a 14-year-old Belgian Malinois, died on Monday morning, just three days before her planned retirement from the Marion Police Department. She served with Sgt. Justin Francis for the entirety of her 12-year career.
“She was a very vital part of, not only our K9 unit, but this police department as a whole,” Marion Police Chief David Fitts said. “It got to where everybody that’s ever come through here got to know her.”
Loeki started her time at the MPD in June 2012 after graduating from the K9 school of Von Liche Kennels in Denver, Indiana. She was recognized for her tracking ability, winning several awards for her talents and competing in the K9 Olympics.
“We were all pretty amazed at the drive and the stamina she still had, even at this age,” Fitts said. “She went until her body couldn’t go anymore.”
She is credited with 25 apprehensions, approximately 326 successful tracks, and assisted in the seizure of approximately 2,700 pounds of narcotics and around $275,000 in currency.
Francis had planned to step away from the K9 unit with Loeki’s Aug. 1 retirement, returning to serving as a regular patrol officer. Along with being Loeki’s partner while on duty, Francis was also her handler and owner at home.
“She was loved by Sgt. Francis’s wife and children, and she was just another part of their family when she was off duty,” Fitts said.
The Marion Police Department will look to replace Loeki on the four-dog K9 unit soon, a process that had already started with her retirement coming up.
MPD is currently reviewing applications for a new handler to join the unit, who will then be paired with a dog in the November class at the Von Liche Kennels K9 school.
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