For the Tomahawk Leader
LINCOLN COUNTY – The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office this week announced that K9 Poncho has passed away.
A Thursday, March 7 post on the Sheriff’s Office’s Facebook page said Poncho died of natural causes peacefully in his sleep early in the morning on Tuesday, March 5, the day after completing what would be his final shift.
K9 Poncho had six shifts remaining before his retirement on Friday, March 15.
“K9 Poncho was a 10-year-old German Shepherd born in Hungary and trained at Vohne Liche Kennels in Denver, Ind.,” the Sheriff’s Office said. “He was certified in narcotics detection, officer protection, building searches, human tracking and criminal apprehension.”
K9 Poncho began serving Lincoln County in 2017, during which time, the Sheriff’s Office said he proved to be a valuable asset in the Patrol Division, as well as on the Special Response (SWAT) Team and as a community relations ambassador.
“He will be greatly missed and not easily replaced,” the Sheriff’s Office stated. “We ask that you please keep K9 Poncho, his handler Deputy Prahl and the Prahl family, with whom Poncho lived, in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you, Poncho, for your loyalty and dedicated service to us and to the Lincoln County community. May you rest in peace and continue to watch over and protect us.”