Village of Pelham Police Department pays tribute to Hunter, its longtime K9, who served the community from 2016-2024

Published on April 14, 2026

It is with deep sadness that the Village of Pelham Police Department announces the passing of Hunter, K9-03 officer, who passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on April 8, 2026 of natural causes. Hunter would have turned 12 years old in December 2026. He is already greatly missed by the members of his department, the community he served and especially his handler, retired Sgt. Anthony Borsella and the Borsella family.

The Pelham Police Department’s K9 unit was established in 1997 with the Village’s first K9-01 officer, Jocky, from Romania. Jocky served with distinction until 2004, when he passed away from a 9/11 related illness while still active in the line of duty.

Dutch, K9-02, was from the Netherlands, and served honorably from 2005 until 2015 and passed away of natural causes while still on active duty.