Retired Police K9 Tuco Remembered Across Calhoun County

Calhoun County is remembering Tuco, a retired police K9 whose six years of service paired skilled law-enforcement work with a familiar presence at schools and community events.

Tuco died at home on October 20th, 2026, surrounded by family, friends and former colleagues, according to the sheriff’s office.

His career with the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office ran from 2016 through 2022 alongside handler Deputy Guy Picketts Jr., who retired the same year.

The partnership was made possible in part by former sheriff’s detective Guy Picketts Sr., whose donation helped bring Tuco to the department and continued a family tradition of public service.

Across hundreds of deployments, Tuco helped deputies track suspects, search for missing people and locate narcotics.

Those assignments made him a working public-safety asset, but they tell only part of his local impact.

Tuco also appeared at school demonstrations, youth programs and public-safety presentations, giving residents a closer look at how trained dogs support officers and the people they serve.

The sheriff’s current K9 unit continues that work through teams trained for tasks such as contraband detection, explosive detection and other specialized searches.

Tuco’s passing closes one chapter of that program while underscoring the lasting bond between a working dog, a handler and the wider community.

For animal advocates, the remembrance also highlights the care these dogs receive after active duty ends and the family life that follows a demanding career.

Residents who want to learn more can read the original local report, view the sheriff’s memorial announcement, visit the sheriff’s office information page or explore the county’s K9 unit.

When did K9 Tuco serve Calhoun County?

Tuco served with the sheriff’s office from 2016 until his retirement in 2022.

Who was Tuco’s handler?

Deputy Guy Picketts Jr. worked alongside Tuco throughout the dog’s county service.

What work did Tuco perform?

He assisted with suspect tracking, missing-person searches, narcotics detection and public education.