K9 Ryker

1st Handler – Det. Shawn Pegram
2nd Handler – Sgt. Sean Wheeler

The Spokane Police Department says one of its K9 dogs, Ryker, has died. The department says it’s with “great sadness” that they let the community know that this weekend Ryker succumbed to an illness he’d bravely battled for a number of weeks. Ryker was Spokane Police Department’s first Explosives Detection K9, joining SPD in December of 2013. The department says, “Ryker was truly a special dog and incredible partner” and his loss “will be felt deeply by his handlers, our agency, and the Spokane community he was trained and dedicated to protect.” K9 Ryker trained with two different handlers during his time at SPD. His first partner, Det. Shawn Pegram, said this of Ryker, “It was a privilege to work with him for the few years I had him. He was a special dog and truly had a one-track mind; always ready to ‘find it’.” His second partner, Sgt. Sean Wheeler, had this to say, “Even to his last day, Ryker pulled himself up onto his front legs, happy to work as he saw me come down the stairs with my K9 shirt on. Ryker was so full of love, gentleness and the ultimate drive to work. My family and I will never forget Ryker as he was, without a doubt part, of our family.” The police department says they want to thank all members of the community who have reached out to Sgt. Wheeler and the Spokane Police K9 Unit with love and support for Ryker over the past few months.

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