Staff photo / J.T. Whitehouse Giving a final salute to the late police canine Rocky is handler Chad Debarr, along with his wife, Andrea, and two daughters Bella and Noel. Rocky had become part of the Debarr family.

CANFIELD — A memorial service Tuesday at Fair Park paid tribute to police canine Rocky, who died Nov. 5 after a battle over liver cancer.

More than two dozen canine units from Trumbull, Mahoning, and Columbiana counties and the Ohio State Highway Patrol joined a caravan from the Canfield Fairgrounds through the city to Fair Park. As the canine cruisers pulled into the park, Piper Kim Meek from the North Coast Pipe and Drum Corps played the bagpipes.

At Fair Park, the fellow officers joined Canfield officers and canine handler Chad Debarr as Rocky was remembered and honored for his service. Rocky will be the fourth police dog to be memorialized at Fair Park’s K9 Memorial Grove. Like the others before him, (canine Zach 2004-2010, canine Thor 2010-2017 and canine Nix 2020-2023), a white dogwood tree was planted and a memorial plaque will be placed by it.

Police Chief Chuck Colucci spoke at the ceremony about his own dream.

“It was my dream to become a canine handler,” he said, “but it wasn’t in the cards.”

He said he quickly learned to respect canine handlers and their dogs.

Also speaking during the ceremony was Canfield canine handler Aaron Young, who attended with his four-legged partner, Rip.

“I watched Chad and Rocky on practice days and they made it look so easy,” he said. “These dogs are not just your partners, they are also your friend and are a big part of your family.”

Debarr added that canine partners really do “have our backs.”

Colucci said Rocky was supposed to attend the Nov. 6 city meeting, but 90% of his liver was compromised. On Nov. 5 he died, leaving a legacy for his family and the Canfield Police Department.

At the end of the ceremony, Debarr spread some of Rocky’s ashes at the base of the new white dogwood tree that will have a memorial stone added. Debarr was accompanied by his wife, Andrea, and daughters, Bella and Noel, as they shed a tear in saying goodbye to a family member.

For Debarr, it was the second time he had to say farewell to a canine partner. He began his handler career with Thor, who was laid to rest in 2017 after seven years of service to the Canfield PD.

Two other canines, Hammer and Arno, will have memorial trees planted next year and a ceremony with their original handlers will be held. Once that ceremony is over, all six deceased police dogs from Canfield will be honored with a stone and tree at the K9 Memorial Grove in Fair Park.