Even on his deathbed, Dirk, a K-9 for the West Jordan Police Department, wanted to work.

The 10-year-old Belgian Malinois was always anxious to hop into the police cruiser of his handler, Officer Michael Daugherty. The K-9 helped West Jordan police net a string of criminals since he came on the force in 2002, including a 2007 drug bust where he sniffed out 70 pounds of marijuana stashed in a South Salt Lake city van.

So when Dirk died of cancer earlier this month, the loss reverberated throughout the police force.

"We spend at least 10 hours a day with (police dogs) seven days a week," said Daugherty, whose family took on Dirk as a pet in the hours the dog wasn't working for West Jordan.

"They become our partners and part of our lifestyle."

Daugherty gathered donations from West Jordan businesses in order to purchase Dirk from an Indiana kennel in 2002. The dog is credited with locating "dozens of fleeing suspects" as well as detecting drugs that led to arrests and prosecutions in many cases, said West Jordan police Sgt. Drew Sanders.

A veterinarian diagnosed Dirk with cancer in October, Sanders said. The dog died three weeks later. Prior to his death, Dirk competed in Las Vegas at the K-9 trials, a competition for police dogs across the country. He placed fourth in the narcotics detection division, Sanders said.

Dirk was known for being persistent and tough when apprehending suspects, Daugherty said.

On one occasion, a suspect beat Dirk with a crow bar after the dog brought him down. Despite his injury, Dirk stayed with the suspect until police took the man into custody.

Daugherty said his family is saddened by Dirk's death. His four daughters and 4-year-old boy loved the dog, who left his fierce demeanor at work everyday.

Dirk ran out of the family's home the day he died, anxious to go to work, Daugherty said. He slumped down next to a gate near the house and had to be carried back in the house, where he later died.

"Everybody misses him," Daugherty said.

--Melinda Rogers