Marble – “Godspeed, good and faithful boy.”
Those words echoed over law enforcement radio Monday as officers said goodbye to one of their own.
Cherokee County sheriff’s K-9 Deputy Bane, a 4-year-old Dutch Shepherd, died Thursday evening moments after being struck by a vehicle outside the home where he lived with his handler, Detective Caleb Stiles, and his family. Law enforcement held a funeral procession for Bane on Monday afternoon from the sheriff ’s office in Murphy to the training center off U.S. 19/74 in Marble.
Sheriff Derrick Palmer spoke at the services. He said a lot of tears were shed at the sheriff’s office after they learned of Bane’s passing.
“One thing about Bane was he had a personality that was much different than any K-9 we’ve ever experienced at the sheriff’s office,” Palmer said. “... Everybody there felt like they were vested in him and that he was vested in them.
“He was a friend to everybody.”
Several dozen officers and members of the community attended the services. Pallbearers carried Bane’s body in a coffin bearing his name through rows of officers who stood saluting him. His final resting place was only feet away behind a flagpole on the property.
“He wasn’t just a dog, he was a deputy sheriff just like I’m standing here before you,” Chief Deputy Joe Wood said.
Bane was born on April 30, 2017, and began service with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office in March 2019, shortly after he was certified to work law enforcement cases.
Bane – with help from Stiles – had a 100 percent narcotics detection rate and was responsible for a sizable number and amounts of narcotics through seizure, according to the sheriff’s office. Bane also was responsible for the apprehension of multiple fleeing suspects, holding them in place for his detective. Capt. Tiffany Holland said Bane was trained in tracking in addition to apprehension and detecting narcotics.
“This pair here was probably the best I’ve seen,” Holland said of Bane and Stiles. “They were so in tune with each other, it was amazing.”
Stiles was visibly emotional throughout the services. He and his wife, Rosalyn, were presented with the burial flag that lay atop Bane’s casket.
“The joy that (Bane) had with Caleb and Rosalyn and their family is something that they will never forget, and neither will we,” said the Rev. Alan Wildsmith, chaplain for the sheriff’s office. “We are grateful for the gifts that God has given us – and especially for our K-9 officers, for the service they provide to this community, and for the joy and friendship we have with them.”
Palmer said some people see a K-9 deputy as a tool officers use. Although he acknowledged that there is an element of truth to that, K-9 deputies are much more.
The sheriff, who also is a pastor, said he believes animals will be present in heaven.
“Caleb, you’ll get to see him again one day,” Palmer said. “I want you to know we’re here for you, and our heart breaks for you and your family and each other. But I can tell you it was a privilege to know Bane, and a privilege to experience the way he worked and got along with everybody at the sheriff’s office.
“When he came to work every day with Caleb, he made his trips through the offices, up and down the halls, and he would go to everybody’s offices to retrieve his treats, and in turn he would give licks and hugs and paws and all kinds of different things. I can’t help but comment on the love he had for Caleb and Caleb had for him.”
Bane’s creed that he wore daily on his service vest said, “Born to Love, Trained to Serve and Loyal Always.”