Elizabeth police say K-9 Bob died after brief illness; successor not announced

Elizabeth Police Department K-9 Bob, a 7-year-old Belgian Malinois who handled apprehension, tracking and narcotics detection, died July 17 after a brief illness, the department’s police monitoring report says.

Bob assisted with tracking operations and narcotics detection at local schools and appeared at community events, public gatherings, department events and school functions. He worked with his handler, Officer Frank, the report says.

A procession involving the Castle Rock Police Department and Colorado State Patrol escorted Bob back to the Elizabeth Police Department. The Elbert County Sheriff’s Office, Lone Tree Police Department and Elizabeth Fire Department also participated, according to the report.

“Bob will always be remembered and never forgotten. Bob, we have the watch from here. Rest in peace,” the report says.

Elizabeth police held a final farewell for Bob July 25, the department said in a Facebook post. The post described Bob as “EOW for the final time,” using the law-enforcement abbreviation for End of Watch.

As of July 25, Badger found no public announcement identifying a replacement K-9, successor handler or interim coverage for tracking and narcotics-detection duties. The public record reviewed for this story documents Bob’s death and farewell but does not say how those duties will be covered going forward.