PORTSMOUTH, Ohio — The Portsmouth Police Department is mourning the loss of K-9 Sita, a department K-9 partner who died Friday, the department said in a tribute posted to its Facebook page.
“A partner in every call, a protector until the end, forever loyal and never forgotten,” the department wrote in a memorial graphic marking Sita’s end of watch as Oct. 30, 2026.
The tribute included a photograph of an officer embracing Sita, who wore a collar badge bearing the Portsmouth Police Department’s insignia, alongside an officer’s uniform patch reading “Portsmouth Ohio Police.”
Police dogs like Sita typically work alongside a single handler throughout their service, performing duties such as tracking, narcotics detection and locating evidence or missing people. The department did not detail the circumstances of Sita’s death in its post.
The Portsmouth Police Department is headquartered at 728 Second St. Under the city charter, the department is led by a chief who oversees no fewer than 43 officers and civilian employees serving the city.
The information contained in this story was obtained from the Portsmouth Police Department.
