Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office remembers retired K-9 Pike, who has passed away

STATESBORO, Ga. (WTOC) - The Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office announced the passing of retired K-9 Pike, who served the office for 7 years alongside his partner, Sgt. Dustin Lanier.

The sheriff’s office said Pike played a role in narcotics investigations, arrests and patrol operations, and helped keep the community and fellow deputies safe. The office said its thoughts and prayers are with Lanier and his family.

Certification and first call-out

Lanier wrote in a tribute that Pike was his first K-9 partner. He said that after graduating from K-9 handler school, the two completed certification through the National Narcotic Detector Dog Association.

Lanier wrote that he arrived home around 11 p.m. the night they were certified. About three hours later, at approximately 2 a.m., he received his first call-out as a certified K-9 handler.

A burglary had occurred at a powersports dealership, Lanier wrote. Pike was deployed to track the suspect from the scene, followed the track and located the person, who was taken into custody.

Career highlights

Lanier wrote that Pike was involved in numerous deployments. Among them, Pike tracked and located a child who had been missing for more than an hour, located a rolling methamphetamine lab on Interstate 16 and located approximately 1 kilogram of methamphetamine during a random search at a FedEx facility, where the narcotics were being shipped through the mail.

Lanier wrote that those were a few highlights and that Pike also contributed to additional narcotics seizures and assisted in the apprehension of numerous offenders.

Lanier’s role today

Lanier is now the sergeant over the K-9 Unit and works with a new K-9 partner. He wrote that Pike played a role in shaping the handler, deputy and supervisor he is today.

“He taught me patience, discipline, commitment, and, most importantly, trust,” Lanier wrote.

Lanier wrote that he helps lead and develop the next generation of K-9 teams.