K-9 Marek Obituary (2007

It is with our deepest sympathy that we announce the passing of recently retired K9 Marek. K9 Marek passed away last night peacefully at home, surrounded by family. K9 Marek and Officer Tim Davis were partnered in January of 2019 with the Knox County Sheriff's Office - Maine. K9 Marek served with the Knox County Sheriff's Office from 2019 until 2023, at which point K9 Marek and Officer Davis joined the Rockland Police Department. During this time, he was the only active police canine in Knox County. During Marek's 5 years of service, he was deployed over 300 times, helping locate numerous criminal suspects, lost individuals, evidence, and illegal drugs. Marek's career is full of highlights, including locating a suicidal teen who had run into the woods with a knife; helping apprehend a Domestic Violence suspect who was hiding in a house with a gun and recovering a knife that was thrown into the woods after a stabbing. One of Officer Davis's favorite stories was when Marek, who was not known for his friendly appearance, located an elderly man in the woods who had his leg caught in some rocks. When Marek got to the elderly man, he started to lick his face, giving the elderly man comfort, which was very much outside of Marek's typical personality. No matter the job, Marek always seemed to know what was needed. During Marek's time in Rockland his list of accomplishments did not stop. In just a year and a half, Marek was deployed 56 times resulting in 12 people located on tracks, assisting in 21 arrests and 21 drug seizures, with the largest being 200 grams of narcotics. Even off duty, Marek had an impact. During a foot pursuit of a suspect running from law enforcement, the suspect stopped after hearing a domestic dog bark, saying he did not want Marek to come after him. In December 2024, K9 Marek retired from duty due to medical issues and was recently diagnosed with cancer. Officer Davis was told when he started his training to be a K9 handler that, "you don't get the dog you want, you get the dog you need." K9 Marek wasn't just a dog, he was Officer Davis' partner and friend and was the dog Officer Davis needed.-------------------------------Rockland Police will be holding a public service for K9 Marek. The service will take place at Burpee Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home in Rockland, Wednesday June 25th at 11:00 AM. Anyone with questions regarding the service are asked to please contact Sergeant Josh Lemoi at JLemoi@RocklandMaine.Gov.2d:{"dateTime":"2025-0