North Richland Hills police K-9 Koba dies weeks before planned retirement

K-9 Koba served North Richland Hills for more than a decade and survived being shot in the line of duty. He died after a recent cancer diagnosis.

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, Texas — A North Richland Hills police K-9 who survived being shot in the line of duty and served the community for more than a decade has died, the department announced Tuesday.

Koba, a 12-year-old Belgian Malinois, died peacefully early Tuesday morning, Aug. 18, after recently being diagnosed with cancer, according to the North Richland Hills Police Department.

This story continues below.

Koba began training with his handler, Officer Lizak, in June 2016. During their more than 10 years together, the pair made numerous arrests and apprehensions and assisted other law enforcement agencies with patrol operations and narcotics detection.

Koba was also wounded in the line of duty.

In 2019, Koba was shot while responding to a call involving an armed person who was suicidal. He survived and later received the department’s Police Commendation Bar for his actions.

Police said Koba began showing signs of medical problems in late July. A veterinarian determined he had cancer, and further testing showed the disease had progressed beyond treatment.

Koba spent his final weeks at home with his family.

The department said those weeks included plenty of love — and a few steak dinners.

“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,” North Richland Hills Police Chief Garner said.

Garner credited the bond between Koba and Lizak with helping make them an effective team.

“Together, this duo set a benchmark for excellence in the K-9 field,” Garner said. “Their expertise and fearless service not only elevated our agency’s capabilities but touched many lives. We’ll forever remember Koba and the impact he had in our community.”

Koba is the first North Richland Hills police patrol K-9 to die while still actively working, according to the department.

He had been scheduled to retire in October.

The department said another police dog, K-9 Luka, will continue the work Koba leaves behind, helping officers track suspects and find illegal drugs.

“Thank you for your service to our community, Koba,” the department wrote. “We’ll take it from here.”

Community members who want to support the department’s K-9 teams can contribute to a K-9 fund operated by the North Richland Hills Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association.