Kira
An Edinburgh Police K-9 passed away Sunday after a brief illness.
K-9 Kira fell ill during a routine monthly training exercise Thursday, but it seemed like she “walked it off.” However, after she stopped eating on Friday so she was transported to Indy Vet Hospital, where she was diagnosed with Pneumonia and an infection, said Doyne Little, police chief.
Despite treatments, Kira passed away in the arms of her handler Officer Ryan Coy and in the presence of fellow officers from several departments on Sunday, he said.
Kira, a three-year-old Belgian Malinois, was hired in July 2022 and finished her training in October of that year. During her career, she made many arrests, helped get drugs off the street and even helped locate a person who had an overdose, likely saving their life, Little said.
In addition to her police work, she was also a “comfort dog.” She was a good companion for Coy and his family, she improved officer morale and she visited local schools to build connections with Edinburgh’s youth, he said.
“She wasn’t just a dog, as Ryan likes to say, she was his four-legged partner,” Little said.
Officers are left with fond memories of Kira. For Little, one memory is how she ran into his office and jumped in his lap every day.
The department plans to cremate her and is still deciding on the details of a final ceremony. Little is leaving the scale of the ceremony up to Coy, and will share any public details when they are decided on, he said.
The department is now both adjusting to life with one fewer K-9 officer and mourning the loss of their friend and colleague.
“Keep an eye on your four-legged friends you never know when they will go,” Little said.
Kira, along with K-9 Skye, was brought on in 2022 to revive the town’s police dog program after decades without one. Skye retired last year following a reoccurring shoulder injury at the recommendation of her veterinarian. Both of the K-9 officers joined the department at an older age than is typical, which played a part in their short tenure.
K-9 Xta is now the only police dog who is actively working for Edinburgh Police. The hiring of another K-9 has been approved by the town council, but that K-9’s handler is still in training at Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, Little said. Once training is complete for both K-9 and handler, there will be two dogs in service for the department.
Little is still exploring whether to ask the council to hire another K-9 in the future, he said.
