The Fort Walton Beach Police Department announced the passing of retired K-9 Astro earlier this week.

K-9 Astro was adopted by the Fort Walton Beach Police Department in 2011 from the Lackland Air Force Base Military Working Dog Program. There he was known by his ID P694 and was 2 years old at the time.

K-9 Astro was member of the Fort Walton Beach Police Department and assigned to Sgt. Charles Pettis. During his six years of service to the City of Fort Walton Beach, K-9 Astro was instrumental in community engagement and narcotic enforcement.

When Sgt. Pettis promoted in July of 2016, K-9 Astro retired and went to live permanently with the Pettis Family in their home. Since that time, K-9 Astro has enjoyed retired life with his furry siblings, according to a press release for the PD.

“Astro was my partner, my shadow,” said Sgt. Pettis. “I couldn’t move two feet without him beside me. He was my ear through some difficult times. Astro and I were truly a match for each other.”

In 2019, I had the pleasure of meeting K-9 Astro and filming with him a bit. The City of Fort Walton Beach, in partnership with the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce, were raising funds to support a K-9 unit for the Fort Walton Beach Police Department. Astro and Sgt. Pettis starred in our video as an example of why K-9s like Astro are vital to our community.

“Rest well K-9 Astro, we have the watch from here,” wrote the FWBPD.