Retired UT Police Department K9 Bira passed away on Thursday, October 22. She was 8.

Bira served the department from June 2013 until May 2019 when she retired. She was assigned to former UTPD Sergeant Cedric Roach.

Bira was an explosives detection K9 who helped with searches of all UT’s large venues including Neyland Stadium and Thompson-Boling Arena.

She was one of UTPD’s favorite employees. Oftentimes, colleagues would speak to her first before speaking to her handler Sergeant Roach. She never passed up an opportunity to be petted and she loved treats.

Doctors discovered Bira had an aggressive form of bone cancer in June 2019. UT Veterinary Hospital doctors operated and removed her front right leg to try to address the cancer.

“She recovered well from the surgery and lived a productive three-legged dog life,” Roach said.

Bira recently started having trouble walking. Roach took her to have scans and the cancer had spread to her spine and was pushing on a nerve.

Special thanks to UT Veterinary Hospital who was responsible for her extraordinary care from the time she came to UTPD until the end of her life.

We are grateful for Bira’s six years of service to the UT Police Department.