Died – 5\/10\/16
\nHandler – Sgt. Matthew Azaroff<\/p>\n
Sheriff\u2019s office loses K9 Marco<\/p>\n
The Cherokee County Sheriff\u2019s Office is mourning the loss of a beloved patrol canine that worked with the agency nine and a half years. K-9 Marco, who retired from the department three years ago to go live with his handler, lost his battle with cancer Tuesday with his friend and partner Sgt. Matthew Azaroff by his side, the sheriff\u2019s office confirmed Wednesday. The 14-year-old Belgian Malinois served nine and a half years with the department as an explosive detection and patrol K-9, Lt. Jay Baker said. Azaroff, who\u2019s worked for the sheriff\u2019s office 17 and a half years, describes his dog as strong and dedicated. He says he and Marco spent the last 13 years learning from each other. The two got to know each other well over the years, working together from May 2003 until Marco was retired. Azaroff recalled the first time the two met. He had been with the agency four and a half years when he traveled to Florida to complete his initial K-9 training and pick up Marco when the police dog was just 14 months old.When Marco retired after showing signs of arthritis, the Malinois went back to Azaroff\u2019s home to live out the rest of his days with his handler and family. \u201cYou never know what these dogs are capable of until you spend nine and a half years\u201486 hours every two weeks with them,\u201d said Azaroff, who added that Marco was exceptional and about as close to perfect as a dog could get. \u201cI could cut him loose in a room filled with 400 children and he\u2019d go pick a kid and lay in their lap,\u201d Azaroff remembered. \u201cAnd then 10 minutes later we could go out and find a bad guy.\u201dAzaroff said Marco was tremendous at bridging the gap between law enforcement officers and the community, saying 18- and 19-year-olds would approach the duo to discuss memories they had of meeting Marco back in grade school. \u201cNine and a half years is a really long time for a dog to work,\u201d Azaroff said. \u201cMarco was an amazing dog and I witnessed him do many incredible things during our time together.\u201d Baker says the department has five K-9 units that serve many different functions, calling them vital to the agency. \u201cOften we utilize our K-9s to clear buildings of suspects or potential explosives,\u201d Baker said. \u201cThe drug task force will often call on them to assist with drug search warrants. Obviously most people love dogs and because of that we often use them to reach [out to] children and the public.\u201d Azaroff said the support he\u2019s received from the community and the sheriff\u2019s office has really blown him away.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Died – 5\/10\/16 Handler – Sgt. Matthew Azaroff Sheriff\u2019s office loses K9 Marco The Cherokee County Sheriff\u2019s Office is mourning the loss of a beloved patrol canine that worked with the agency nine and a half years. K-9 Marco, who retired from the department three years ago to go live with his handler, lost his …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1506,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[26],"class_list":["post-1503","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-k9memorial","tag-fl"],"yoast_head":"\n