Died – 7/19/17
1st Handler – Deputy Devin Wright
2nd Handler – Officer Austin Lawrence
Graham Police Department mourning loss of K9 Officer
On July 19, 2017, Marko, a 7 year old German Shepard and K9 officer was lost due to complications from medical conditions affecting in particular, his spleen. Marko was a dual purpose canine, who joined the Graham Police Department in 2010 serving with two handlers during his career. Marko was used for narcotics detection and tracking. Marko was popular with adults and children, due to his friendly demeanor and dynamic personality, and he participated in numerous crime prevention programs, public forums, and demonstrations of how police canines can make a positive impact on their community. Marko had the distinction of being the first Police Canine Officer of the Graham Police Department, assisting in approximately 200 investigations or calls for assistance during his service to the communities of Graham, Olney, and Young County. Marko’s career with the Graham Police Department was made possible by donations from the community and the efforts of the Graham Citizen’s Police Department Auxiliary. In 2009 and 2010, citizens raised in private donations and fundraising events over $53,000.00 to purchase the canine and vehicle.Marko served with distinction, always passing required testing and achieving accreditation with the National Narcotic Drug Detector Dog Association. Marko has stood and remains to stand as a symbol of this community’s effort to rid our neighborhoods of drugs and crime. Every time Marko alerted to the presence of drugs, he potentially saved the life of a member of our community. His service will never be forgotten and he will be sorely missed by us all. The Department’s flag will stand at half-mast in his honor.