PROVO, Utah, Dec. 19, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — Provo Police K-9 Loki has passed away two months after retiring due to ill health, officials announced Monday evening.
Provo Police Department officials said in a statement released on Facebook that Loki, who was 7-and-a-half years old, died of natural causes last week.
“We wish to express our thanks and condolences to Officer Scott Nielsen, who worked with Loki, welcomed him into his family, and took care of him through the last day of his life,” the post says. “Loki was a great presence in our department and in our community.”
Loki joined the department in 2011, Provo Police officials said in a Facebook post at the time of his retirement.
“Since that time, he has served the citizens of Provo by making innumerable drug searches, suspect encounters, and by engaging in continuous community outreach,” the post says.
“Loki was able to help put bad guys in jail, and then during the same shift entertain and educate school kids. Cub Scouts loved to come to the police station to meet K-9 Loki and learn about police work.”
The news release said some recent debilitating health concerns forced him into an early retirement as he battled complications with a liver disease and back pain. Loki retired to the permanent care of his partner, Officer Nielsen.
“Loki’s nose led officers to hundreds of drug seizures of all sizes” the statement says. “He found everything from small drug stashes, to two pounds of well-hidden methamphetamine inside a car bumper, to four pounds of marijuana inside a car tire.”
The news of Loki’s passing prompted an outpouring of comments on Facebook.
“Loki, thank you for your service … you will be greatly missed! Officer Nielsen my heart goes out to you,” one post says. Another says: “I loved that dog so much, he was so nice. Every time Officer Nielsen would bring him to the motel in Provo he would always let us kids pet him, he was the sweetest dog. Rest in peace officer, God bless you and your owner.”
