SALINA, Utah, June 24, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — Summit County Sheriff’s deputies and officers with the Salina Police Department are mourning the loss of their first K-9 officer who passed away Thursday afternoon.
K-9 Officer Thomas passed away at him home, two years after retiring. Thomas started his career with the Summit County Sheriff’s Department and worked there for approximately eight years doing both narcotics and apprehension work.  He then served with the Salina Police department in narcotics from 2012 to  2014 when he retired.
K-9 Thomas was 13 years old at the time of his passing and enjoyed general good health up until the last few days of his life.
“The Salina City Police Department is grateful for the hard work K-9 Thomas contributed to the communities that he served, and for all the good times and fun everyone had interacting with him,” Salina Police Department said in a police department.
“He will always be remembered by the officers who worked with him for his incredibly high prey drive, courage, and hardness. There truly aren’t many working dogs like Thomas was. Thomas was known throughout the state of Utah in the K-9 world for both the challenges he presented his handlers with as well for so many of his awesome traits that made him a highly reliable and fearsome drug/apprehension dog.”
Salina Police Chief Eric Pratt was Thomas’ handler.
“You will be forever missed,” Pratt said. “Thomas, you were the only dog I have every truly loved, feared, and respected all at the same time! Love your daddy, Eric”
