MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — The Milledgeville Police Department is mourning after their beloved K-9 officer died after suffering an unexpected medical emergency.
K-9 Officer Falco died on Monday after serving the department for years. Chief Dray Swicord made the announcement on Facebook, noting that "Very seldom do I post things, but today is hard."
"We had to say goodbye to one of our finest earlier today after an unexpected medical emergency," Chief Swicord wrote. "K9 Falco, you’ve served beyond what was expected, thanks to a great handler, Maj. Linc Boyer. Keep chasing, Falco, and RIP."
Boyer himself made a Facebook post remembering Falco, calling him "my partner and more importantly my best friend."
"As hard as everything else was today the hardest part was walking back in the door a few minutes ago and it being completely silent," Boyer wrote.
But Boyer also highlighted Falco's service to the community, helping catch criminals and bring them to justice. Falco's specialty is tracking.
"You’ve pulled me through some of the thickest and muckiest places that buffalo swamp, Milledgeville/Baldwin and surrounding counties had to offer and had me questioning several times if we were chasing a ghost but then you’d prove me wrong and we’d take one in custody," Boyer wrote.
That service contributed to Falco receiving the '2018 K9 of the Year' by the Georgia Police K9 Foundation.
"I love you Falco and I hope heaven has a Chick-Fil-A so you can eat all the Chick-n-Minis you want!!" Boyer wrote. "I’ll never forget you big guy…rest easy."
