Rest in peace, Patriot: Maryland police mourn loss of K-9 officer

WASHINGTON - The Maryland Natural Resources Police Department lost one of their own on Friday. The department tweeted the news that retired K-9 Officer Patriot died Friday at the age of 13.

The department said Patriot served with distinction until she retired in 2015. She was named, appropriately, because she was born on July 4, 2004.

Patriot worked alongside Sgt. Lisa Nyland to find human remains and conduct Search and rescue missions. One of the highlights of her career, the department said, was when she cracked a two-year-old murder case on the Eastern Shore.

Thank you for your service, Patriot. Rest in peace.