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Died – 7/9/19
Handler – Officer Rick McLendon
K9 Rocky says goodbye before his last patrol
Richland police K9 Rocky is spending time with friends, family and the community before his final patrol. The 17-year-old Beligian Malinois will be put to rest Tuesday evening after battling an ongoing illness, police officials said.“K9 Rocky will be known as one of the greatest K9s that the Richland Police Department has ever had,” officials with the department said in a Facebook post. “(He) had a very successful career in his years of service to these communities by being a key source to combat drug interdiction on Interstate 20 and Interstate 55. K9 Rocky was loved by his fellow officers, but feared by drug smugglers.” K9 Rocky grew up with Officer Rick McLendon’s children. Rocky came to the U.S. from Holland in 2004 when he was 2 years old and trained with USK9 in Louisiana before he was purchased by the Madison County Sheriff’s Office. Rocky was certified in narcotics and patrol and was assigned to handler Chris Picou. Picou was hired in 2006 by the Richland Police Department and brought Rocky with him, authorities said. When Picou left the department in 2008 for Kuwait, Rocky was transferred to K9 Officer Rick McLendon. During Rocky’s time with McLendon, he was instrumental in the seizures of more than $10 million in illicit drug proceeds, 365 pounds of cocaine, 860 pounds of marijuana and 225 pounds of methamphetamines, police said. K9 Rocky achieved top local, state and national honors. Rocky has lived with McLendon and his family for the past 11 years and grew up with the officer’s two children. Rocky will be at the entrance to the Richland Police Department from 1 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. for people to say goodbye to him.
