The Eugene Police Department says K9 officer Blek was hit and killed by an unknown motorist on November 10 while off-duty with Officer Rob Griesel in rural Lane County.
K9 Blek was only weeks away from retirement, the department said.
According to Chief Pete Kerns, “Blek has been a go-to dog for our department. He enjoyed a storied career and had a warrior’s spirit. His passing is crushing for his family and he will be missed by us all.”
Just this year, Blek was honored with EPD’s and Oregon Peace Officers Association’s K9 Valor Awards for the capture of a suspect in the shooting of a deputy.
Blek was a German Shepherd from Slovakia. He was born in September 2009 and selected as a K9 for EPD in March of 2012.