Sheriff Rosie Cordero‑Stutz led a Miami‑Dade Sheriff's Office delegation to Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, for the National Police K‑9 Memorial Service, a solemn trip with a very specific purpose. The team joined agencies from around the country to honor K‑9 Roxi, the narcotics‑detection Labrador who was mortally injured during a January pursuit. Roxi was among this year's memorialized K‑9s, giving her handler and colleagues a national stage to publicly remember her years of service.
How Roxi Was Hurt
According to a Miami‑Dade County press release, K‑9 Roxi was injured on January 30, 2025, when the SUV she was secured in was struck during a pursuit. She was rushed to an emergency veterinary hospital and died two days later. The release notes that Roxi had served with the narcotics unit since April 2017 alongside Deputy Jared Hahn and describes her as a "trusted friend" who assisted on multijurisdictional narcotics cases. Miami‑Dade County
The Pursuit and Charges
Local reporting says the chase began after detectives tried to stop an alleged fentanyl supplier who fled and, deputies say, intentionally rammed the K‑9 SUV, sending it into a concrete wall in northwest Miami‑Dade. Police arrested 33‑year‑old Anthony Medina and two passengers after what the reporting describes as a seven‑month, multiagency investigation. Prosecutors later charged Medina with multiple fentanyl‑trafficking counts, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, fleeing and eluding causing injury, and firearms offenses. Miami Herald
Honored at the National K‑9 Memorial
On Tuesday, Sheriff Rosie shared the department's post on X noting that MDSO attended the National Police K‑9 Memorial in Washington and that Roxi was honored as one of 23 four‑legged heroes this year. Sheriff Rosie Cordero‑Stutz on X
The annual service, held during National Police Week at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, features wreath and rose‑laying ceremonies to honor fallen K‑9s and their handlers. The event is supported by the National Police Dog Foundation, which also runs a K‑9 Memorial Fund that helps agencies with training and medical support. Police1
Department and Community Response
Sheriff Cordero‑Stutz and the department have publicly mourned Roxi, with the sheriff calling the dog "more than just a partner" in social posts that followed the crash, reporting by the Miami Herald shows. Colleagues from across South Florida turned out for a local memorial in February 2025, and department leaders said the trip to D.C. gave handlers a chance to grieve alongside peers from other agencies. The loss has also sparked internal discussions about K‑9 safety and the risks animals face during vehicle pursuits. Miami Herald
Legal Fallout
Medina faces a string of felony charges tied to the broader investigation, including trafficking and weapons counts along with allegations connected to the crash, Local10 reports. Prosecutors are moving forward with the case while investigators and the sheriff's office review the pursuit and its consequences. The case remains in the county criminal system and could influence how similar incidents are handled in the future. Local10
Why It Matters
K‑9 Roxi's death highlights ongoing concerns about the dangers of high‑speed pursuits in Florida, where reporting has documented dozens of chase‑related fatalities and recent policy changes that give troopers wider discretion. Critics and advocates say cases like this show the human and animal cost of aggressive chases and renew questions about when pursuits should begin and how long they should continue. Miami New Times
How to Help and Learn More
The National Police Dog Foundation operates grants and a K‑9 Memorial Fund that support medical care, training, and replacement for agencies that lose dogs in the line of duty. For more information on the memorial and related support programs, visit the foundation's website. National Police Dog Foundation
