K-9 Deke made one last trot around the bases last week.
The Kennewick Police dog is being credited with tracking down a suspect who robbed two credit unions to make his final arrest. Police say the eight-year-old Deke, responsible for tracking as many as 180 arrests, is headed for retirement because of health and age concerns. It was quick action by the canine detective and witnesses that helped police collar the credit union bandit. A robber entered Mondad FCU shortly after 5 p.m. on a Thursady and showed what turned out to be a fake gun, then demanded money and ran out. Then a suspect of the same description repeated the robbery at nearby Kennewick Community FCU.
K-9 Deke helped police track the robber to a hiding spot behind a shed down the street. The suspect, identified as 42-year-old Edward Fernauld, was charged with two counts of robbery.
The Kennewick Police Department is holding a retirement party next month for Deke. Deke's handler has a new dog, named Vigo, ready to report for duty.
