Sergeant Matthew Zarrella stands with a police K9 at the Wickford State Police barracks

WPRO News

The Rhode Island State Police officer responsible for developing the force’s canine division retired Friday afternoon during a ceremony in Wickford.

Sergeant Matthew Zarrella stepped down from the force after 25-years of decorated service. Zarrella’s service as a canine officer was internationally recognized as he and his dogs took part in many missing persons cases and even traveled to Vietnam to search for the remains of veterans from the war.

Zarella said despite technology becoming a bigger part of the law enforcement profession, dogs will still be a part of the equation.

“K9’s still have a purpose in this world, their abilities are far beyond anything we can replicate with our technology; I don’t ever see that [changing],” said Zarrella.

The Sergeant was also the subject of the film Reliance, which documented his efforts to rehabilitate pound dogs into search and rescue K9s.