Bartlesville Fire Department Search and Rescue K-9 Hurley, pictured here with his handler and trainer BFD Equipment Operator John Spicer, passed away July 30 at age 12.
Bartlesville Fire Department Search and Rescue K-9 Hurley passed away on July 30. He was 12.
“Bartlesville Fire Department Equipment Operator John Spicer was Hurley’s handler, trainer and best friend since 2007,” said Deputy Fire Chief David Topping.
“Hurley was a valued member of our department and an incredible resource. He will be missed.”
Spicer and Hurley were both members of OK Task Force 1. Hurley was trained in urban search and rescue and was state certified for search and rescue (Type 2) and federally certified as FEMA Search and Rescue (Type 1).
“Hurley was one of the first three K-9s on OK Task Force 1,” Topping said. “If you ever watched him work or if you participated in training as a search victim, you knew immediately that he loved his job.”
Hurley continued to show up for work even after retirement, Topping said.
“Though retired for about two years, Hurley still came to work at Station 3 with John when he was on shift,” he said. “We are thankful to both of them for their service and dedication to the City of Bartlesville and the State of Oklahoma.
Photos courtesy of Bartlesville Fire Department