DARLINGTON - The Lafayette County Sheriff's Department is mourning the loss of one of their own - Riley, the department's first canine officer.
Suffering from spinal arthritis, Riley was put down by a local veterinarian Sunday, Sheriff Scott Pedley said, and the moment was a difficult one for members of the department.
"When he was taken to the veterinarian yesterday, his final ride was, fittingly, in the patrol car he had worked out of during his seven years and three months of active duty," Pedley said.
Riley was moved to off-duty status in November 2009. Following Riley's retirement from the department, he was adopted by his handler, Deputy Fred Norder.
His replacement, Cody, continues to serve with the sheriff's department.
The sheriff's department will fly the U.S. law enforcement flag in honor of the dog. The flag is typically flown to honor law enforcement personnel who have died.
Riley was an 11-year-old Belgian Malinois that came to the department in May 2002 with grant funding from the Wisconsin Office of Justice Assistance and donations from local Lions Clubs and individuals.
Norder and Riley were partners from the time Riley came to the department, and were honored in 2007 by the Wisconsin Law Enforcement K-9 Handlers Association. In May 2005, Norder and Riley were attacked in Platteville by a man who was carrying a knife. Norder wrestled the man to the ground and Riley assisted keeping the man at the scene until other officers arrived. Norder and Riley were injured in the fight, but recovered shortly afterward.
In 2006 Lafayette County students helped raise $1,200 to purchase a protective vest for Riley.
Suffering from spinal arthritis, Riley was put down by a local veterinarian Sunday, Sheriff Scott Pedley said, and the moment was a difficult one for members of the department.
"When he was taken to the veterinarian yesterday, his final ride was, fittingly, in the patrol car he had worked out of during his seven years and three months of active duty," Pedley said.
Riley was moved to off-duty status in November 2009. Following Riley's retirement from the department, he was adopted by his handler, Deputy Fred Norder.
His replacement, Cody, continues to serve with the sheriff's department.
The sheriff's department will fly the U.S. law enforcement flag in honor of the dog. The flag is typically flown to honor law enforcement personnel who have died.
Riley was an 11-year-old Belgian Malinois that came to the department in May 2002 with grant funding from the Wisconsin Office of Justice Assistance and donations from local Lions Clubs and individuals.
Norder and Riley were partners from the time Riley came to the department, and were honored in 2007 by the Wisconsin Law Enforcement K-9 Handlers Association. In May 2005, Norder and Riley were attacked in Platteville by a man who was carrying a knife. Norder wrestled the man to the ground and Riley assisted keeping the man at the scene until other officers arrived. Norder and Riley were injured in the fight, but recovered shortly afterward.
In 2006 Lafayette County students helped raise $1,200 to purchase a protective vest for Riley.