The Natchez Police Department recently lost a valuable member of the force, Police Dog Arko.

Arko, approximately 14 years old, died a few weeks back of cancer and other age-related ailments.

Arko served on the force for at least a decade and for the past few years was the only police dog on the force.

Police dogs are vital to any good law enforcement operation.

Dogs’ keen senses of smell enable them to track and sniff out missing people and hidden contraband.

Dogs also are useful in apprehending fleeing suspects.

Those are just a few of the duties, Arko, fulfilled in his tenure on the Natchez police force.

The Natchez Mayor and Board of Aldermen have allocated enough money for the police department to purchase a replacement police dog to fulfill the duties Arko had been fulfilling, and the police force is working on making a purchase.

In addition, however, the police department is trying to raise enough funds to purchase a second police dog so the department can have two dogs, one to work night shifts and one to work day shifts.

We encourage the community to contribute to the fundraising effort.

With two police dogs on the force, the dogs and their handlers will not have to work double duty.

Arko did worked two shifts when needed over several years and served his community well.

We owe Arko a debt of gratitude.

Good boy, Arko! Job well done.

May you rest in peace.