One of DeKalb's finest takes early retirement

11-year-old Viper, sheriff’s office’s first K-9, to join partner at home.

Deputies and marshals from the

DeKalb County Sheriff ’s Office busied themselves preparing the picnic pavilion at Mason Mill Park for a retirement ceremony Wednesday morning. The supply list seemed complete: cake, plates, cups and drinks were all placed neatly on a table with room for a speaker.

“But where are the dog biscuits?” a DeKalb sheriff ’s deputy joked.

The ceremony’s guest of honor was a handsome 11-year old Belgian Malinois named “Viper.”

Viper retires after more than eight years of service as a K-9 deputy in DeKalb — around 60 dog years. He is the first canine officer in DeKalb to be honored with a retirement ceremony. But his retirement was important to the department for other reasons.

“It’s the first retirement of the first officer in the K-9 unit, so this is a really big deal for the depart-

ment as a whole,” said Major L. J. Roscoe, the Field Services Division Commander at the DeKalb County Sheriff ’s Office. “We are fortunate to be able to retire him while he’s still in good health.”

Viper was one of two K-9 deputies selected for DeKalb’s unit when it was established in 2009. Since then, he’s had 860 deployments and has worked 200 tracking assignments, the sheriff ’s office said. He’s also apprehended 247 suspects — without biting.

Roscoe presented Viper with

a plaque “in recognition of eight and a half years of devoted service.”

Deputy Sheriff Michael McRae, Viper’s partner and handler, said many handlers first notice their dogs slowing down at about 10 years old.

“But Viper turns 12 in August and still wants to work,” he said. “About a month ago he had a felony apprehension out of DeKalb. He’s still got it. It’s going to be a little rough (to retire him) but we are going to take it slow.” McRae will provide his partner a retirement home, alongside the family’s Yorkie.

Roscoe said it’s bittersweet saying goodbye to one of her team. On Monday she and McRae will head down to Southern Coast Canine in Florida to find the dog that will become McRae’s new K-9 partner.

Viper will assume his new role as “the protector of the McRae family” effective immediately, the sheriff ’s office said.

HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM Major L.J. Roscoe (right) of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office presents a retirement card to Viper and his partner and handler, Deputy Sheriff Michael McRae, on Tuesday.