The Junction City Police Department is mourning the loss of K-9 Police Service Dog Vethos, who died while on duty Monday.
In a statement released Monday, the department said the Belgian Malinois joined JCPD in 2024 and served in the Investigations Division alongside his handler.
Officials said the circumstances surrounding Vethos’ death remain unknown. A full investigation has been launched, and additional information will be released as the investigation progresses.
The department said its immediate focus is on determining what led to Vethos’ death while supporting his handler through the loss.
“We ask our community to keep Vethos in your thoughts,” the department said in its statement. “Vethos was more than a working dog. He was a protector, a teammate, and a member of the JCPD family. This loss is felt deeply across our entire department.”
The department marked Vethos’ end of watch as July 6, 2026.
