A K-9 deputy who recently retired from the Oakland County Sheriff's Department has died of COVID-19.
The office says Mike Garrison was a top-notch employee who brought joy to the community and had a real passion for his job.
Garrison and his K-9, a Dutch Shepherd named Paco, had been partered since 2012. Paco retired in 2018, and went home to live with Garrison full-time. Prior to Paco, Garrison had another K-9 for eight-and-a-half-years.
It is with a heavy heart we announce the passing of recently retired K9 Deputy and all-around wonderful person, Mike...
Posted by Oakland County Sheriff's Office on Thursday, January 14, 2021
He started his career with the department in 1993.
Garrison described Paco to the Oakland Press when he retired in 2018, saying, "He is laying on the floor right now eating his toy," said Garrison. "His energy level doesn't drop much when he's at home. He is always go, go, go. He's like the energizer bunny." He added that he and his furry companion went camping together.
The details of how and when Garrison got sick have not been revealed.
