~ Idaho Falls Police Department (IFPD) recently honored the retirement of two of their dedicated K-9 officers, K-9 Rocky and K-9 Harry. The ceremony, held on September 23, 2026, was a celebration of their decade-long careers and service to the community.

At the retirement ceremony, both dogs were showered with treats, toys, and comfort items. They also participated in a special "Final Finds" activity to commemorate their years of service. In addition, their handlers were recognized with plaques for their dedication and commitment to the department.

K-9 Rocky, an eleven-year-old Belgian Malinois, has been a part of IFPD since 2015. Alongside his partner Sergeant Klepich, he has been certified in Narcotics Detection and Apprehension throughout his career. In his 11 years of service, K-9 Rocky has completed over 4,000 deployments in both detection and patrol work. This has resulted in the seizure of hundreds of pounds of narcotics and over 100 criminal apprehensions.

Sergeant Klepich shared that most of these apprehensions were "non-contact," meaning that suspects surrendered upon being informed that a K-9 may be deployed. This is a testament to K-9 Rocky's intimidating presence and training. Despite being known for his impressive vertical jump at the start of his career, K-9 Rocky may not jump as high now but still loves working and riding in his police car. He will continue to live with Sergeant Klepich in retirement.

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K-9 Harry is another Belgian Malinois who has served with IFPD since 2016. He was partnered with Officer Bestor since 2020 but spent the first five years of his career with another officer who has since retired. As an Explosive Ordnance and Apprehension K-9, K-9 Harry played a crucial role in the IFPD Patrol Bureau and the Idaho Falls Regional Bomb Squad.

Officer Bestor shared that K-9 Harry was involved in numerous precautionary sweeps of event venues and gathering spaces, as well as assisting in finding firearms during searches and apprehensions. Like K-9 Rocky, he has also been credited with hundreds of non-contact apprehensions throughout his career. However, due to developing arthritis, K-9 Harry was relieved of his apprehension duties in 2022 but continued to serve in narcotics detection.

In retirement, K-9 Harry will continue to live with Officer Bestor and enjoy his "country life" running through open spaces, barking at chickens, and howling with his coyote friends. While both K-9s will miss going to work and riding in their patrol cars, IFPD is confident that their handlers will continue to provide excellent care for them in their golden years.

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As any dog owner knows, the final years of a dog's life can be expensive due to frequent veterinary visits, medications, specialized food, and other care needs. As a result of their retirement, ownership of K-9 Rocky and K-9 Harry has been transferred to their handlers who are now personally responsible for their financial needs.

To support retired K-9s like Rocky and Harry and alleviate the financial burden on their handlers, local nonprofit Heroes Defense has set up a fund. Those interested in supporting this program can contact Heroes Defense or make a donation through their website.

In addition to supporting retired K-9s, donations can also be made to the Greater Idaho Falls Police Foundation to support the ongoing K-9 program at IFPD. The foundation has previously provided equipment and vehicle needs for patrol dogs as well as training for therapy/wellness dogs at IFPD and other local law enforcement agencies.

The retirement of these two dedicated K-9 officers is a reminder of the important role they play in keeping our communities safe. IFPD is grateful for their service and wishes them a happy and well-deserved retirement.

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