Retired police K-9 dies

Feb 10, 2023

Rolf, a retired Wareham Police K-9, has died, the Department announced in a Thursday, Feb. 9 Facebook post.

According to the post, Rolf was “guided to the Rainbow Bridge” by his owner and work partner, K-9 Officer Michael Phinney.

To Phinney, Rolf was not just a work partner, but a best friend.

“He was my shadow,” Phinney said. “I turned around, he was there. He constantly followed me.”

Rolf began training at a 16-week patrol academy when he was 11 months old.

Phinney said that Rolf was prepared for the job even after his retirement in 2018. 

“I wish I had his drive to go to work every day,” Phinney said. “He was so excited to go to work.”

Over 100 commenters left their regards on the Police Department’s memorial post, including the Plymouth and Norwell Police Departments.

“Rolf tirelessly protected and served the Town of Wareham as K-9 for the Department for eight years by Officer Phinney’s side,” wrote the Wareham Department of Natural Resources in its own Facebook tribute