Retired K-9 Mika Dies, Spent 10 Years With Cherry Hill Police

CHERRY HILL, NJ — Retired police K-9 Mika has died at the age of 13, the Cherry Hill Police Department said.

Mika was the partner of Lt. Christopher Wernig, and was an integral part of the police team from Oct. 2010 to April 2021, according to the CHPD.

K-9 Mika earned numerous awards and commendations for his service, including from the U.S. Police Canine Association for drug detection. While on duty he located missing people, found "hundreds of pounds" of illegal narcotics, and assisted in the capture of numerous wanted criminals, said police.

"He will always be remembered for his participation in our Junior Police Academy and National Night Out demonstrations, as well as countless visits to our schools and religious institutions," the police department said.

Police are asking residents to keep Lt. Wernig and his family in their thoughts and prayers.

K-9 Mika was born in Aug. 2009 in Holland, and graduated from the Philadelphia Police Canine Academy in basic patrol and drug detection.