APD K-9 Rocky - RETIRED

We will never forget Rocky's loyal service, his heart or his handsome face. He certainly lived up to the legacy of the hero he was named for. Rest easy, Rocky. Good boy. We have the watch from here.

Rocky joined our team in 2013. He was a beautiful, brilliant black and tan German shepherd, and he was named in honor of APD Officer Rodney “Rocky” Bonney, who was killed in the line of duty on April 6, 1981. Officer Bonney’s widow, Cherrie, got to meet her husband’s namesake when Rocky was sworn-in before Auburn’s City Council, and she very proudly ‘pinned’ his badge during the ceremony.

Rocky retired from service during a private ceremony held in December of 2021. This exceptional K9 faithfully served the citizens of Auburn as a dual-purpose narcotics/patrol dog. During his career, he was partnered with two former APD officers; first Tyler Ham, then Donald Cousins.

During his 8-year career, this extraordinary dog was deployed 345 times - for tracks, drug detection, building searches, article searches and apprehensions. He tracked and located suspects, missing juveniles, and items of evidence, and he helped stop crimes in progress. While he was a sweetheart at the station and at home, he deterred aggressive subjects that wanted to fight - until they saw or heard him.

In 2016, K9 Rocky earned the first ever Colton Guay Award during patrol school at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy. And he was true ambassador of the Auburn PD, attending countless community events and K9 demonstrations, connecting with the people (especially the kids) of this community.

K9 Rocky lived out his well-deserved retirement with former Officer Cousins and his family.