A North Richland Hills police K-9 who survived being shot in the line of duty during a decade-long career died Tuesday, weeks before his planned retirement, police said.
Koba, a 12-year-old Belgian Malinois, died peacefully early Tuesday after cancer diagnosed in late July was determined to be too advanced to treat, according to the North Richland Hills Police Department.
He was the first North Richland Hills patrol K-9 to die while still actively serving and had been scheduled to retire in October, the department said.
Koba began training with his handler, Officer Chris Lizak, in June 2016. Over the next decade, the pair assisted with arrests and apprehensions and worked alongside other law enforcement agencies on patrol and narcotics detection.
In 2019, Koba was shot while responding to an armed person experiencing a suicidal crisis, police said. He survived and later received the department’s Police Commendation Bar.
Police said Koba began showing signs of medical problems in late July. A veterinarian diagnosed him with cancer, and further testing showed the disease was too advanced for treatment.
He spent his final weeks at home with his family.
“K-9 Koba was more than just a working patrol dog; he was a steadfast protector, a trusted partner, and a deeply beloved member of our department,” Police Chief Jeff Garner said in a statement.
Garner praised Koba’s partnership with Lizak, saying the pair “set a benchmark for excellence in the K-9 field.”
The department said K-9 Luka will continue serving on its K-9 team.