Related Articles
Handler: Sgt. Eric Ridout
Retired Muskegon County K-9 deputy dies
Retired K-9 dog, Barrett, who worked with the Muskegon County Sheriff’s Office for years, has died. Barrett started at the sheriff’s office in 2005 and worked with Muskegon County Sheriff’s Sgt. Eric Ridout, his handler, until Barrett retired in 2012. “He led a good life. He was a great dog,” Ridout said. Barrett was diagnosed with bone cancer in December 2014, which affected his mouth, Ridout said. The canine died on Monday, May 4, Ridout said. Barrett will be cremated at Noah Pet Cemetery in Grand Rapids, and a stone will be placed in his honor at the ‘Valley of Heroes,’ a section of the cemetery where other police canines are laid to rest, according to Ridout. Ridout said he has lots of great memories of Barrett to hang on to, specifically his way with children. During his years of service, Barrett would pose next to a flag with children for an annual Muskegon County Prosecutor’s
Office children event in circuit court. It meant a lot to the children who participated, Ridout said. “That particular dog has touched more lives of kids in the community than any other dog. He was really visible in all the schools in Muskegon County,” he said. “He was just a gentle giant.” Barrett was a dual-purpose narcotics dog and did building searches and tracked suspects during his career. He assisted in countless arrests, Ridout said. When he retired, he went to live with Ridout and his family where he remained until his death. Barrett assisted every department in Muskegon County at some
time during his career, Ridout said. Following Barrett’s retirement, he was replaced with the county’s current K-9 dog, Rex.
