K-9 Officer Floki, a seven-year-old Dutch Shepherd assigned to the Marshall County Correctional Facility, was found fatally wounded Thursday morning and is believed to have been shot around 7:45 p.m. Wednesday while working the back perimeter to prevent contraband from entering the prison, prison officials said.
Investigators from MBI and the Holly Springs Police Department are working with the facility’s Corrections Investigation Division, officials said. K-9 Commander Josh Russell found Floki when he went to bring the dog water and food, the facility said.
Floki was described as a multipurpose dog used for tracking, narcotics detection and other tasks. Commissioner Cain is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible, officials said.
“It’s a shame to kill a defenseless dog who was doing his job to help us keep contraband out of the prison,” Cain said. “It’s just a shame to kill our dog.” Cain noted that under Mississippi law a conviction for killing or injuring a public service animal carries a maximum $5,000 fine, five years in prison, or both.
Anyone with information was asked to contact MCCF Superintendent Frank Caswell or the prison’s CID at 662-252-7111. This is a developing story and will be updated as more details emerge.
