Died – 11/24/16
Handler – Corporal Patrick Burton
Licking Police Department K9 struck and killed by vehicle on Thanksgiving
The Licking Police Department’s K-9, Sara, was stuck by a vehicle and died Thursday night. LPD Chief Scott Lindsey said Sara escaped her enclosure at her handler’s residence on Highway 32 west of the city limit, and was then hit by a vehicle on the highway and died. Lindsey said an internal review of the incident is ongoing. “But at this time there is no indication the event was anything other than an unfortunate accident,” he said. Sara (badge No. 709) had been with the LPD since September 2013, and was the last remaining active K-9 unit in Texas County (several local departments formerly funded dogs, including the Texas County Sheriff’s Department and Houston Police Department). Sara and her handler were certified members of North American Police Working Dog Association. “I want to thank our community for the support citizens have shown for the K-9 program over the last three years,” Lindsey said. “Sara was an asset to this department and our community, and she will be missed by our officers.” Lindsey said that he and city officials would together evaluate the future of the LPD’s K-9 program.