LCSO announces death of Search & Rescue K-9

The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office announced on Dec. 8 that Search & Rescue K9 Inca has passed away.

LCSO said Inca, alongside her handler Mary, provided vital assistance to local, state, and federal agencies in some of the most challenging and sensitive investigations, including missing persons cases, homicides, suicides, and accident scenes. Together, they assisted with more than 200 investigations.

The Sheriff’s Office said Inca’s career has left an indelible mark on search and recovery operations in Nevada and across the nation.

Inca’s unique skills and unwavering commitment led her and Mary to travel extensively, both to participate in advanced training and to support organizations such as the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the FBI. Due to the confidential nature of many investigations, details of Inca’s involvement often remained undisclosed; however, her efforts were crucial in bringing answers to families and justice to victims.

LCSO said the impact of Inca’s work extended beyond her immediate teammates, affecting families, friends, law enforcement partners, and the broader canine community. Notably, Inca advanced the field of K9 water search, achieving extraordinary feats such as locating drowning victims at depths greater than 1,000 feet in Lake Tahoe and navigating challenging environments like whitewater rivers and the Sacramento Delta. From the onset of her career, she played a pivotal role in fire victim recovery, including her service in the aftermath of the 2018 Camp Fire in California.

Images of Inca in her Lyon County Sheriff’s vest have been featured in presentations around the globe. She and Mary even appeared on the covers of two Duluth Trading Company catalogs, proudly representing the LCSO Search and Rescue team in both Winter and Summer editions.

“Inca’s legacy of steadfastness, professionalism, and compassion will be remembered by all who had the privilege to work alongside her,” LCSO said in its statement.

The LCSO expresses its deepest gratitude for Inca’s years of service and the profound difference she made in the lives of so many. She will be deeply missed and forever honored as a valued member of the LCSO Search and Rescue team.