K9 served alongside Sgt. Hamon, assisted in more than 100 apprehensions during distinguished career
A retired El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office K9 remembered as both a formidable working dog and a gentle favorite at schools and community events has died following a battle with cancer.
The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office announced the passing of retired K9 Bak, who died peacefully at his home Aug. 27 after serving the department and community for several years before retiring in 2020.
“It is with great sadness that the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office announces the passing of our beloved retired K9 Bak,” the Sheriff’s Office shared in announcing his death.
Bak was diagnosed in April 2025 with an aggressive form of lymphatic cancer. With support from the community, he underwent six months of intravenous chemotherapy, treatment that the Sheriff’s Office said extended his life and gave him additional time to enjoy retirement with his family.
Those extra months included many of the simple activities Bak had come to enjoy after leaving law enforcement — daily walks and trips to local baseball fields, where spirited games of fetch became part of his retirement routine.
Long before retirement, however, Bak established a distinguished record of service.
Born in the Czech Republic and initially trained in Germany, Bak joined the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office when he was approximately 18 months old. He served alongside his handler, Sgt. Hamon, from 2016 through 2019 as part of the department’s Patrol Division.
In early 2017, Bak earned his California POST K9 certification, demonstrating proficiency in obedience, tracking, area and building searches, article searches, apprehension and handler protection. He later earned certification in narcotics detection, further expanding the duties he could perform alongside deputies.
Over the course of his career, Bak was deployed hundreds of times in support of deputies responding to calls throughout El Dorado County.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Bak was directly responsible for more than 100 apprehensions. His presence also frequently helped deputies de-escalate volatile situations before they became more dangerous.
His tracking abilities proved valuable beyond criminal apprehensions. Bak assisted deputies in safely locating several lost or at-risk people, and his narcotics training contributed to the detection and seizure of illegal drugs in El Dorado County.
Bak also became part of the Sheriff’s Office SWAT operation as a certified SKIDDS K9, serving alongside Hamon and the EDSO SWAT Team during high-risk operations.
“Throughout his career, K9 Bak deployed hundreds of times in support of EDSO deputies on calls for service, often playing a crucial role in protecting both deputies and community members,” the Sheriff’s Office said. “His presence alone helped de-escalate volatile situations, and he was directly responsible for more than 100 apprehensions.”
Yet the same dog trained to track suspects, search buildings and protect deputies had another side that became equally familiar to members of the community.
Bak regularly appeared at schools and community events for K9 demonstrations and outreach programs. The Sheriff’s Office described him as having a gentle temperament and a particular fondness for attention, making him a favorite among children, school staff and community members.
“Known for seeking out affection from everyone he met, Bak left a lasting impression wherever he went,” the department said.
Bak retired from active service in 2020 following Hamon’s promotion. He remained with the Hamon family, transitioning from the demanding life of a working police dog to one centered around companionship, walks and trips to the baseball field.
Even after retirement, Bak remained part of the Sheriff’s Office family. His visits to the department continued to bring smiles to employees who had worked alongside him during his years of service.
The Sheriff’s Office credited the community’s support after Bak’s cancer diagnosis with helping provide additional time for him and his family together. Despite the aggressive nature of his illness, chemotherapy allowed him to continue enjoying many of the routines that had defined his retirement before he died peacefully at home.
“Bak was one of a kind and left an undeniable mark on the community and El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office,” the department said. “He will be truly missed.”
The Sheriff’s Office closed its remembrance of Bak with a quote from author Agnes Sligh Turnbull: “Dogs’ lives are too short. Their only fault, really.”
Bak’s legacy spans two very different roles — the highly trained law enforcement K9 who responded to hundreds of calls, tracked people in need, detected narcotics and helped apprehend suspects, and the affectionate dog who sought attention from children at community events and later spent his retirement chasing a ball across local baseball fields.
For the deputies who worked beside him, the residents he helped protect and the Hamon family that shared his retirement years, Bak leaves behind a record of service and companionship that stretched well beyond his final patrol.
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