On Jan. 26, 2022, the Law Enforcement and Investigations community bade a final farewell to retired Pacific Southwest Region K-9 “Ice.”

From May 2011 through his retirement in September 2020, K-9 Ice faithfully served the LEI program as the dedicated partner and constant companion to Klamath National Forest Patrol Captain Christopher (Chris) Magallon.

During his nine years of service, K-9 Ice fully exemplified the qualities of a high performing and consummate law enforcement canine, executing his specialized duties with utmost bravery and valor. Magallon said once of his partner, “Ice is my partner. We are together both at home and work. Ice has literally saved my life and other officers’ lives multiple times, so to adequately describe the depth of our relationship is difficult.”

In the course of his duties, Ice was injured more than once: in 2016, he was stabbed multiple times, and in 2020, he was the victim of blunt force trauma. He was also recognized for his work, receiving (with his partner Chris Magallon) the 2017 LEI Director’s Award for Bravery, Valor or Heroic Act and the 2020 LEI Director’s Impact Award. In 2017, he was voted top dog in the Law Enforcement/Arson dog category at the American Humane Hero Dog Awards.

Ice was well-known in the law enforcement community. According to Magallon, “Sometimes, someone will be telling me a story about one of Ice’s accomplishments and not realize I’m his handler.  Although it makes me proud of Ice, I also realize I am pretty much Ice’s chauffer, driving him around from one adventure to the other.” That makes a pretty good epitaph.