K9 Rocky Retires After A Decade Of Service In Radnor

RADNOR, PA —Friends, family and local business owners joined recently to celebrate the retirement of Radnor Township police department’s K9 Officer Rocky on his final day of service.

After a decade dedicated to the residents of Radnor, Rocky enjoyed all the belly rubs and treats at a luncheon in his honor on Thursday, Sept. 21.

As she has been since the beginning, Officer Jennifer Cocco proudly stood by the German Shepherd’s side during his party.

Rocky's handler and best friend, Cocco, was also recognized for her efforts in implementing the K9 Unit along with Sgt. Dan Lunger in 2014.

Sgt. Lunger presented Officer Cocco with a plaque on behalf of K9 Bear who was laid to rest in 2022.

Officer Cocco and Rocky are well known for their attendance at local events, and school demonstrations, and for providing protective sweeps for explosives - his specialty - for large events held in town and before sporting events at the local universities. He has a seat in Car 76-K1 where his name is emblazoned on the door.

Rocky was recognized on several occasions by the Radnor commissioners for his tracking abilities including finding a gun after a subject fled from police and his successful attempt at locating a child with autism who became lost in a wooded area in 2017.

Rocky will be spending more time at home with the Cocco family.

The township police and other officials wished Rocky health and happiness and thanked Officer Cocco for her time, training, and dedication to the K9 Unit.

Many of the original supporters of the unit were in attendance Thursday including Dr. Len Donato of Radnor Veterinary Hospital who provides his services to the RPD K9s.

K9 Onyx, who specializes in narcotics, and K9 Axel, who specializes in explosives, will still be around the town, helping to fight crime.

A canine’s superior sense of smell allows them to detect odors undetectable by their human handlers. They also have a keen eyesight used to detect prey.

The K9 units perform safety checks, help deliver warrants, search for explosives, search for missing people, deter crime, and more.