K9 Hero

Rocket

Metropolitan Police Department — Washington, DC

Heatstroke Belgian Malinois-German Shepherd mix

Service Record

End of Watch September 19, 2022

Age 7

Gender Male

K9 Profile

Breed Belgian Malinois-German Shepherd mix

Cause Heatstroke

Agency

Department Metropolitan Police Department

Location Washington, DC

Incident

K9 Rocket died in his handler's patrol vehicle after the temperature monitoring alarm system failed while idling at the D.C. Police Facility at 2800 New York Avenue, Northeast.

K9 Rocket was left in the marked police K9 vehicle with the air conditioning running. All Metropolitan Police Department K9 vehicles are equipped with an alarm system that activates when the inside temperature rises to unsafe levels. The monitor system can also lower the windows. The system malfunctioned when the air conditioner failed.

K9 Rocket was an explosive detection dog assigned to the Special Operations Division.