FOLSOM – The Folsom Dam Security Bureau of the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department and others across the law enforcement community are mourning the loss of retired K9 Astro, a devoted and deeply loved partner who served for many years alongside his lifelong handler and partner, Deputy Neverve.
Astro’s passing closes a chapter that began in 2013, when the pair first joined forces in the heightened security environment that followed the Boston Marathon bombing. Thereafter, Astro became a fixture with the Folsom Dam Security division of the Sheriff’s Department.
Astro quickly became an essential presence at Folsom Dam. The Sheriff’s Department reflected on his impact in a statement, sharing, “It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of retired K9 Astro of the Folsom Dam Security Bureau.” They noted the strength of the bond between Astro and Deputy Neverve, adding that Astro was “a constant and comforting presence at the Folsom Dam office, rarely seen apart from Deputy Neverve.”
Those who worked around the team remembered Astro not only for his steady work ethic but also for the warmth he brought to the workplace. Even when he and Gauge — the younger pup sometimes seen with him — had their occasional disagreements, Astro greeted everyone else with the same dependable loyalty that defined him. As the Sheriff’s Department described it, “Astro embraced everyone else with unwavering loyalty.”
Astro’s enthusiasm for his work, his walks, and the people he loved was unmistakable. A shared photograph of him proudly wearing a cape captured the energy his colleagues knew well — a dog who served with pride, purpose, and heart.
For Deputy Neverve and the Neverve family, Astro was far more than a working partner. After years of service together, he became part of their home and remained deeply loved long into his retirement. As the Sheriff’s Department expressed in its message, “For those fortunate enough to know him, Astro wasn’t just a working dog — he was a cherished member of the Neverve family.”
Astro’s service helped protect critical regional infrastructure and touched countless lives along the way. His absence will be felt deeply by those who served beside him, but his legacy will continue through the people and community he faithfully protected. Rest easy, Astro. Your watch is complete.
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