Douglas County Narcotics K-9 Trapper Retires After 11 Years of Service

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. - After more than a decade of helping law enforcement officers remove illegal drugs from Douglas County communities, K-9 Trapper is entering retirement.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office announced Tuesday that the highly decorated English Springer Spaniel is retiring following 11 years of law enforcement service.

Trapper was born in Ireland in December 2013 and was later selected and trained to detect illegal narcotics. During his career, he worked with several local law enforcement agencies and served as a member of the Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, Trapper’s detection work helped investigators locate hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and fentanyl.

His alerts assisted law enforcement officers during traffic stops, search warrants and other criminal investigations. The Sheriff’s Office said his work contributed to the disruption of drug trafficking operations and the arrests of hundreds of people involved in distributing controlled substances.

“K-9 Trapper exemplified the dedication, professionalism, and reliability expected of every member of law enforcement,” said Corporal Matt Bird, Trapper’s longtime handler. “His work undoubtedly made Douglas County a safer place, and it has been an honor to serve alongside him.”

The Sheriff’s Office thanked Trapper for his years of service, loyalty and contributions to public safety. Officials said his legacy will be remembered by the deputies, detectives, law enforcement partners and community members he served.

The agency also thanked the Friends of Umpqua Valley Police K9 Programs, Bailey’s Veterinary Clinic and other local businesses that supported Trapper throughout his career and continue to assist law enforcement K-9 teams across Douglas County.