Press Release edited by Shea Smith/ photo courtesy of the JCPD

K9 Police Service Dog (K9 PSD) Vethos of the Junction City Police Department (JCPD), who passed away while on duty on Monday, July 6, 2026, was found unresponsive in a K9-equipped patrol vehicle.  

Preliminary findings indicate the cause of death was heat exposure.

The JCPD requested on Tuesday, July 7 that the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) conduct an independent third-party investigation to determine all facts surrounding this incident.

The JCPD has said they will cooperate fully with the investigation.

K9 PSD Vethos’ handler has been put on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation per JCPD standard operating procedure.

Vethos, a Belgian Malinois, joined the department in 2024 and served in the Investigations Division.

In a statement released by the JCPD, Public Information Officer Cadin Sanner said that Vethos’ loss continues to be felt deeply across the department and the City.

All further requests for information regarding this incident should be directed to the KBI.