Franklin County Sheriff's Office K-9 Vader Passes Away

Vader served the sheriff's office for three years and had recently been battling a serious illness.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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The Franklin County Sheriff's Office in Arkansas announced the passing of their K-9 officer Vader, who served the department for three years before succumbing to a serious illness. Vader played a critical role in the department's efforts to remove illegal narcotics from the community, with over 300 deployments resulting in significant drug seizures.

Why it matters

The loss of a K-9 officer can be deeply felt within a law enforcement agency, as these animals are highly trained partners who work closely with their handlers. Vader's passing highlights the important contributions these K-9 units make in supporting the mission of local police departments.

The details

Despite the best efforts of veterinary care and the support of his handler, Lt. Jared Anthis, Vader's condition worsened. Over his short career, Vader was deployed 314 times, resulting in the seizure of 1,868.63 grams of illegal narcotics, 63 items of drug paraphernalia, and $6,690 in cash.

  • Vader served the sheriff's office for three years.
  • Vader recently battled a serious illness before passing away on February 11, 2026.

The players

Kyle Bacon

The Franklin County Sheriff.

Jared Anthis

Lt. Jared Anthis, Vader's handler.

Vader

A K-9 officer who served the Franklin County Sheriff's Office for three years.

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What they’re saying

“Vader played a critical role in the sheriff's department's mission to remove illegal narcotics from our communities. Throughout his short career, Vader was deployed 314 times resulting in the seizure of 1,868.63 grams of illegal narcotics, 63 items of drug paraphernalia, and $6,690 in cash.”

— Kyle Bacon, Franklin County Sheriff (wmix94.com)

The takeaway

The loss of K-9 officer Vader is a reminder of the important role these highly trained animals play in supporting law enforcement efforts to combat drug-related crimes in local communities.