DEM K9 'Bear' Retires After 7 Years Of Service

PROVIDENCE, RI — After seven years of service to the Division of Law Enforcement, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management is celebrating the retirement of a beloved K9. Bear, a Belgian Malinois, helped catch wanted criminals, find missing persons and find illegal drugs.

"Bear has contributed so much value to our Division of Law Enforcement, his career has been rewarding and impressive, we owe Bear a debt of gratitude," said DEM Director Janet Coit.

Bear was acquired by the department in 2014, coming at no cost from New York. In his time with the department, Bear has been part of many department missions, both related to law enforcement and public outreach.

One of his most notable successes, the department said, was when he helped catch a bank robbery suspect in Narragansett. Bear and his handler, Officer Chris Duguid, tracked the man, who ran away from the bank on foot. The man was found in an outbuilding on a nearby property and arrested.

Bear was recognized for his work to the department by the Northeast Conservation Law Enforcements Chiefs Association and Shikar Safari International.

Although Bear will be greatly missed by the department, his replacement has already been found. Grizzly, a year-old German Shepherd, was also gifted to the department by the New England Canine foundation. He has been training with Duguid and helped reunite a distressed woman with her family in his first week on patrol, the department said.