The Washington County Sheriff’s Office has announced the passing of K-9 Brucha, a 10-year-old German shepherd.

Brucha was named in honor of the late Sr. Bruce Hamilton. Her name was crafted from a combination of letters in Hamilton’s name. In Hebrew, Brucha means decent people with a sense of justice and honesty.

During her tenure with the Sheriff’s Office, she contributed significantly to many successful apprehensions, searches for lost or wanted persons and numerous drug arrests. She was also a beloved figure in the department’s Community First events, including visits with students at area schools and strengthening the bond between law enforcement and the Washington County community.

Brucha fought a valiant battle with cancer and was recently honored with an official walk-out ceremony.

Brucha will be deeply missed by her handler, Investigator Travis Earl, his family and everyone in the Sheriff’s Office.