CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – K-9 Bella of the Albemarle County Police Department has passed away following complications from a medical emergency while being taken to the veterinarian on Tuesday, the department announced the following day. 

During her time on the force, the nine-year-old bloodhound was instrumental in helping her fellow officers with tracking and search operations, helping find missing and at-risk persons as well as safely apprehended fugitives.  

She responded to over 100 calls, helped locate more than 20 missing or endangered individuals, completed 2500 hours of training and was a fixture in the community along with her handler, Officer Mikesh, with the two attending countless event together. 

“K-9 Bella helped keep the residents of Albemarle County safe and provided critical support to officers during searches in our jurisdiction and beyond,” Colonel Sean Reeves, Albemarle County Chief of Police wrote in the release. “The Albemarle County Police Department commends K-9 Bella for her dedication to our mission and extends its deepest condolences to Officer Mikesh and his family during this time. We ask our community to keep them in their thoughts and respect their privacy as they grieve.”