State Fire Marshal’s Office Mourns The Passing Of K-9 Officer
A special officer of the Louisiana State Fire Marshal's Office passed away after he had surgery.
K-9 officer Barry was a 10-year-old Labrador who was very skilled.
He was classified as an EOD dog, which stands for 'Explosive Ordinance Detection'. The officer would be sent in to sweep areas to make sure there were no sinister devices.
The canine officer and his handler, Corporal Mitch Trahan were even the recipients of the 2014 K-9 Team of the Year.
Barry was there anytime there was an emergency in the Lafayette or the Alexandria areas.
But, this K-9 officer was world class, for a variety of reasons, including the fact that he served two tours of duty overseas with U.S. marines.
State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says,
"Just a few weeks ago, we highlighted the significance our K-9 teams have on the success of the ageny's mission to save lives. K-9 Barry was an integral member of our K-9 unit as one of only two EOD dogs in the state. But when an unexpected loss like this occurs, it also shows how much these K-9 officers become part of the State Fire Marshal's office, especially their handlers' family."
Browning says the are appreciative of Barry's service, and they know everyone will miss him.