10/19/2025
Statue of slain K9 officer unveiled
MOUNT AIRY, N.C. — What began as an ordinary day on Oct. 16, 2024, turned tragic for the Mount Airy Police Department when K9 officer Draco lost his life in the line of duty. One year later, the department honored the 3-year-old German shepherd with a life-size bronze statue unveiled outside the police station on Rockford Street. The memorial ceremony drew about 60 attendees, including officers and community members, who remembered Draco’s bravery during a shootout with a double-murder suspect. Police Chief Dale Watson praised Draco as a hero who saved fellow officers by shielding them during the encounter. “Draco was a warrior and he died a warrior’s death,” Watson said. The statue now stands as a lasting tribute to the sacrifice of both two- and four-legged officers who serve and protect.