MARYSVILLE—On Friday, Nov. 14, the Marysville PD hosted a memorial ceremony outside the Marysville Civic Center. Uniformed K-9 teams lined Delta Avenue in solemn formation, paying tribute to two K-9 officers who exemplified courage, loyalty and heart. The ceremony concluded with a final radio call, a tradition marking the end of watch, in recognition of Copper and Steele’s years of dedicated service to the City of Marysville.
The Marysville Police Department and City of Marysville extend heartfelt thanks to the K-9 handlers and law enforcement agencies from across the region and Canada who joined them in honoring the service of K-9 Copper and K-9 Steele. Their presence at Friday’s memorial was a powerful reflection of the shared mission and deep respect that unite our community, the PD said.
“These dogs didn’t clock out at the end of a shift,” said Police Chief Erik Scairpon. “They rode in the patrol car, trained in the field, curled up at home. In many ways, they spent more time with their handlers than anyone else and that kind of closeness builds something powerful.”
Copper served alongside Officer Derek Oates, and Steele partnered with Sgt. Brad Smith. Through thousands of hours of training, long days on patrol and moments of danger when hesitation was not an option, each team forged a silent, unshakable bond.
“To every handler here today, thank you,” Scairpon said. “You know better than anyone that this work is built on trust, loyalty and love. You know what it means to serve alongside a partner who never asks for praise. If you’ve ever watched a K-9 team in action, you know the bond between handlers and their K-9 partners.”
Copper and Steele were the first dual-trained patrol and narcotics detection dogs in Marysville’s history. Over nearly a decade, they completed more than 600 deployments, assisted in nearly 400 arrests and helped remove dangerous drugs from city streets.
“Their passing leaves a void,” Scairpon said. “But their legacy leaves a standard. Copper and Steele, you were the best of us. You will never be forgotten.”
Source: City of Marysville
Author: Lynnwood Times Staff
