A loyal partner, family member and friend; that’s how Habersham County K9 Officer Falco is being remembered. The 5-year old Belgian Malinois was killed in a tragic fire in an outbuilding at his handler’s home on Payne Norton Road in Alto on Friday.
Glenn Allen with the State Fire Marshall’s Office says, “The fire that killed the K9 is not suspicious and appears electrical. The source of the electrical malfunction may have been a heating lamp.”
A proud record of service
Falco was a dual purpose K-9 who joined his handler and partner Corporal Johnathan Thomas at the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office in 2013. He was used at the department for narcotics detection, human tracking and suspect apprehension. During his service with the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office, Falco assisted with several captures of suspected criminals and assisted in the seizure of many narcotics.
Falco and Corp. Thomas were recognized by the National Narcotic Detector Dog Association (NNDDA) and the American Working Dog Association (AWDA) for the past three years.
Memorial service planned
Memorial Services for Falco are scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday, February 4, 2016 at The Torch Worship Center located at 800 Cannon Bridge Road, Demorest, Georgia 30535.
A procession will begin from the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office in Clarkesville to The Torch Worship Center at 1 p.m. Public safety personnel wishing to ride in the procession are asked to please be in place by 12:30 p.m.
The Habersham County Sheriff’s Office is located at 1000 Detention Drive, Clarkesville, Georgia 30523.
All others attending the service are asked to please arrive at The Torch Worship Center by 2 p.m.
