Tucson police mourn loss of retired K9 Kiro | Local News

TUCSON, Ariz. (KVOA) – The Tucson Police Department announced the death of retired K9 Kiro, a patrol dog who served the department for nearly nine years.

Kiro came to Tucson from Slovakia in 2016 and worked as one of the unit’s primary SWAT K9s for most of his career. During his service, he logged 621 patrol deployments and 220 SWAT operations.

The dog worked with Officer Andy Birtcil during his first three years before spending his final five years partnered with Officer Barrie Pedersen. His ability to remain calm under pressure made him well suited for high-risk operations, according to the department.

When the SWAT team needed a K9 for its most dangerous operations, Kiro was consistently the dog selected for the job. After retiring, he spent the last two years living with his handler and family.

Kiro enjoyed daily walks, relaxing around the house and playing with K9 Ranger during his retirement. The department said his service and dedication had a lasting impact on TPD and the community he served.