DENTON -- A memorial service is scheduled for Thursday in Denton for a Denton County K-9 deputy who escaped from his handler and was later shot and killed by a rancher on Dec. 21.
The service for Chico is at 1 p.m. at the Denton County Sheriff's Office administration building, 127 N. Woodrow Lane.Chico, a three-year-veteran of the department, had gotten out of his handler's backyard on Dec. 20 when strong winds blew open a gate to a residential backyard in Wylie where he was staying.A rancher shot Chico, apparently thinking he was a coyote, on Dec. 21 to protect chickens, authorities said.Chico was a 4-year-old Belgian Malinois who was credited for numerous large narcotic seizures and detection of millions of dollars in elicit currency in the area. He also was trained in passenger processing which allowed him to work in small confined occupied areas such as passenger buses.Flowers can be sent to the sheriff's administration building or donations may be made to the Denton County Law Enforcement Association at P.O. Box 1794, Denton, Texas, 76202 in the name of Chico.Domingo Ramirez Jr., 817-390-7763Twitter: @mingoramirezjrHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
