CHILLICOTHE, Ohio (WCMH) — The Ross County Sheriff’s Office will be honoring the life of one of its own Thursday with a procession for a K-9 officer who died this week. 

Ross County Sheriff’s K9 Deputy Michael “Mike” Blue died of cancer on Monday; he was 9 years old. 

Mike, a Belgian Malinois, was an explosive detection K9 for the sheriff’s office; he previously served with the Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office. 

Born on Nov. 1, 2015, in Germany, Mike was trained by Shallow Creek Kennels and met his handler, Deputy Dale Thomas, in 2017. 

In the line of duty, Mike swept many locations for explosives to protect students, the Circleville Pumpkin Show, Ohio State Buckeyes, and even the president of the United States. 

Mike was also a member of the Pickaway County DARE program, where he would help cheer up students he encountered while patrolling the hallways. 

Mike lived with Thomas and his family, enjoyed playing ball, camping, Jeep rides, swimming, and chasing his cat sister Alice. 

The K9 officer will leave Faithful Companion on Memorial Drive in Plain City Thursday at 1:30 p.m. accompanied by Ross and Pickaway counties sheriff’s offices and other law enforcement departments to his final resting place on London Road.  

Anyone who would like to honor K9 Deputy Michael Blue can donate to the Ross County Sheriff’s Office DARE program at 28 North Paint Street, Chillicothe, Ohio, 45601 or the Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office DARE program at 600 Island Road, Circleville, Ohio, 43113.