Retired YCSO K-9 dies
The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office has announced the death of one of their retired K-9’s.
YCSO said, “It is with great sadness that we report the passing of retired Yuma County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Paris on Tuesday, June 20, 2017. K-9 Paris was a sable and black in color male German Shepherd, born January 5, 2007. He was named after the ancient Athens leader Pericles meaning “Surrounded by Glory” and K-9 Paris proved to live by his name.”
Paris and his handler, Deputy William Rice, attended the U.S. Border Patrol K-9 Academy at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas in May 2008. Paris and his handler successfully completed the two-hundred and forty (240) hour course on June 20, 2008 and received the Border Patrol Certification.
Deputy Rice and Paris were assigned to the Yuma County Detention Center. Their mission was to deter and detect the presence of narcotics in the Detention Center, which included Marijuana, Methamphetamine, Cocaine and Heroin. Deputy Rice and Paris were also called upon to assist the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Bureau and the Yuma County Narcotics Task Force (YCNTF) with their mission to improve the quality of life for all residents of Yuma County.
In addition to assisting the YCSO Patrol Bureau and YCNTF, K-9 Paris and his handler were also called on to assist numerous agencies within Yuma County to include the Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms (ATF), Arizona Department of Public Safety, Arizona State Gang Task Force (G.I.I.T.E.M.), Cocopah Tribal Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Homeland Security Investigations, San Luis Police Department, Smuggling Interdiction Group, Somerton Police Department, U.S. Border Patrol, and Yuma Police Department.
On April 30, 2014, K-9 Paris retired after nearly 6 years of dedicated service as a member of the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit. During his tenure, Paris was responsible for the seizure of 208.6 pounds of Cocaine; 4,929 pounds of Marijuana; 149.2 pounds of Methamphetamine; and $601,958.00 in U.S. currency.
In retirement, Paris continued to reside with his handler, Deputy William Rice and his family.
