Blitz, Doggedly Determined Investigator For Austin Police Department, Dies Of Cancer

AUSTIN, TX — Blitz is dead.

The beloved member of the K9 unit at the Austin Police Department was laid to rest Thursday after succumbing to Multifocal Large Cell Lymph sarcoma, an aggressive form of cancer. Blitz began his service with the APD in September 2008, serving until his death Wednesday with the Patrol K9 unit where the canine was assigned to special operations, according to a news release.

For the length of his career, Blitz patrolled the Austin streets with his partner, Officer Darrin Lahr. In that time, Blitz help effect 100 arrests, officials said.

"K9 Blitz was a single purpose police K9, whose primary responsibility was supporting police officers and specialized units with apprehending criminals," police said. They described the task of burying Blitz as one they conducted "with a heavy heart."

The Austin Police Department Canine Unit was established in 1979 with a mission of providing trained police canine teams to assist in the prevention and detection of crime, to locate persons sought by the police and to promote a favorable public image of the Department.

>>> Photos of Blitz with career-long partner Darrin Lahr courtesy of Austin Police Department