The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) is paying respects to a devoted and highly skilled working dog who was put down after battling bone cancer.
K9 Pici began her service with senior trooper Brent Pickle in 2020. The pair removed dangerous narcotics and firearms from roadways throughout the state, but primarily in the Birmingham area.
Due to medical complications, K9 Pici retired early. After a 10-month battle with bone cancer, the dog passed away on August 2 at Argo Animal Clinic.
“Today was without question the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do,” Pickle stated. “A working dog is more than ‘just a pet’; they’re a law enforcement officer just as we are. Pici was with me through countless pursuits and criminal arrests—she helped put away people who needed to be off our streets. She wasn’t just my K-9 partner, she was my best friend. I’ll be forever grateful for the privilege of being Pici’s handler.”
Pickle and Pici took one last ride Saturday morning, and she was fed a special breakfast of sausage, biscuits and treats.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Argo Animal Clinic for their expert care, their compassion and their commitment to Alabama’s working dogs,” Pickle added. “They helped us catch Pici’s illness and they made sure she was pain-free for as long as possible.”
ALEA secretary Hal Taylor stated, “K-9 Pici embodied the courage, loyalty and dedication that define the law enforcement profession. She was not only an asset to ALEA but a protector of our communities. We mourn her passing, but we also celebrate a legacy of service that will not be forgotten.”
Colonel Jonathan Archer, director of ALEA’s Department of Public Safety (DPS), also paid tribute to Pici.
“K-9 Pici was more than a crime-fighting partner within our Highway Patrol Division – she was a symbol of loyalty, service and devotion. Her work helped make our roads safer and communities more secure,” Archer stated. “We are proud to honor her memory, and we are grateful for the incredible bond she shared with Sr. Trooper Pickle. The loss of a K-9 like Pici is felt deeply across our Agency.”
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