Deputy Viper To Become First DeKalb Canine Retiree

DECATUR, GA — A DeKalb County deputy will retire on Wednesday after only 8 1/2 years on the job. But, hey ... that's about 60 in dog years.

K9 Deputy Viper, one of the first canines to join the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office, will be 12 years old in August. He's going to be the first dog to retire while still active and, as such, the sheriff's office is throwing him a retirement party.

He's had a career worth celebrating, too.

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"Deputy Viper has a commendable record," said DeKalb County Sheriff Jeffrey Mann. "He has had 860 deployments, worked 200 tracking assignments, located eight firearms and assisted in the confiscation of multiple pounds of illegal narcotics."

In that time, Viper has apprehended 247 suspects, Mann said — all without biting. He has worked assisting U.S. Marshals, local police departments, DeKalb County Schools and the federal Drug Enforcement Agency.

He was awarded first place in Tracking and Patrol at the 2013 South Georgia K9 Seminar and Certification.

A Belgian Malinois, Viper joined the sheriff's office when the field division started up the canine unit in October 2009. Rocky, another Belgian Malinois who joined the department at the time, died in 2014.

Upon his retirement, Viper is going to live with the family of Deputy Michael McRae, his partner and handler.

DeKalb currently has two other K9 deputies: Tomi, in the field division, and Astor, in the jail division.

Viper's retirement celebration will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Mason Mill Recreation Center, at 1340 McConnell Dr. in Decatur. K9 officers and partners from area law enforcement agencies have been invited and treats will be served.

Photo courtesy DeKalb County Sheriff's Office