Police dog lauded as trusted partner
Residents, administrators and first responders marked National Police K-9 Day by gathering Tuesday on the Boerne Police Department steps for the unveiling of a memorial to fallen canine officer, Chico.
Officials revealed a statue of Chico, sitting just to the left of the department entrance. A plaque pays tribute to all K-9 officers for the jobs the specially trained dogs perform, and for being a part of the law-enforcement team.
“A K-9 is a partner. There is an incredible amount of trust between a handler and their dog,” Police Chief Steve Perez said at the Sept. 1 ceremony. “When an officer deploys a K-9, that officer is trusting their partner to do exactly what they have been trained to do — and the K-9 places that same trust in the officer.” Perez added, “K-9 Chico was that kind of partner.”
Chico, a 5-year-old Belgian Malinois, joined the force in November 2023 and served the department and the community with courage, loyalty and dedication, the chief told listeners.
On April 10, 2025, Chico died in the line of duty after searching a vehicle for suspected narcotics. The latch securing his place in a K-9 vehicle failed, Chico jumped out and, by the time officers could get to him, Chico had been struck by traffic on Interstate 10.
“For our department, that loss was deeply personal,” the chief said. “We lost a member of our team. An officer lost his partner.”
According to the chief, Chico became well-known to the community through demonstrations, public events and “his service to Boerne.”
“That is why gathering here today is important,” Perez added.
City Manager Ben Thatcher said Chico’s death should remind everyone about the risks law-enforcement officers and first responders take every day.
“Chico served alongside our officers. He helped protect this community,” Thatcher said. “And through his work at public demonstrations and community events, he also helped strengthen the connection between our organization and the people we serve.”
Mayor Frank Ritchie read a proclamation honoring the police dog.
“When Chico died, we saw just how meaningful that connection had become,” Ritchie said. “We are a community that supports those who serve us. We show up for one another. And when one of our own experiences a loss, we feel that loss together.”
Memorial artist Linda Sioux Henley unveiled the statue with the help of Boerne police Sgt. Pedro Moncada, who had been Chico’s handler; Moncada’s wife, Letty; and Brittany Schmidt, who assisted Henley in the creation and design of the statue.
“For our department, that loss was deeply personal.”
— Police Chief Steve Perez
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