This notification comes with surprise and sadness after nearly a 7 year career came to an end early for K9 Bowie of the Madison Police K9 Unit. Bowie was diagnosed with bone cancer in October 2024 and had surgery to remove the affected area. Unfortunately there were complications which required additional emergent surgery days later. Bowie made a full recovery and returned to work for 10 days in January 2025 and logged a non-contact apprehension getting a violent domestic suspect to surrender from an attic. Bowie would later return to his veterinarian and was determined to have a different non-treatable liver cancer.

Bowie was a 9 year old Belgian Malinois who was imported to Tarheel K9 in Sanford, NC from the Netherlands in February 2018 at age 2. Bowie was selected in February 2018 and after initial training hit the streets in the City of Madison in June 2018 assigned to Officer Eric Disch.

Bowie was trained in tracking, narcotics detection, area searches, and criminal apprehension and logged over 3000 hours of training as a multiple purpose K9.

Bowie was a decorated K9 earning an award through Spikes K9, earning K9 of the year in 2022 as well as earning his handler an award through the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Canine Handler Association (WLECHA) of K9 Handler of the Year 2022. Bowie was awarded the 2024 Meritorious Track of the year, also through WLECHA. Several other recognitions, citations and departmental awards to include the meritorious conduct award in May 2022.

Bowie was involved in assisting with nearly 400 arrests, locating 150 suspects and physically apprehending 17 violent suspects on a logged 710 deployments. Bowie enjoyed all parts of his job to include locating a kilo of methamphetamine on a search warrant & an overall total of 7.8 kilos of marijuana, 770g heroin, 568g cocaine, 285g crack cocaine & 2.8 kilos of fentanyl. Bowie also assisted in the recovery of over 40 handguns. Bowie had multiple successful tracks involving violent suspects leading to multiple federal indictments over the years.

There wasn’t a person or animal that Bowie didn’t get along with. Whether it was greeting officers in briefing or showing off his skills at training or public demonstrations, Bowie was a true ambassador to the greater Madison community. Bowie was a lover of family and friends and got to experience vacation life, lake life and other family gatherings.

Bowie was as tough as they come and he loved to work and will be deeply missed. Bowie was sponsored by the BerbeeWalsh Foundation, Lakeview Veterinary Clinic, Dr. Megan Arcé, Nutzy Mutz & Blackjack K9.

Bowie, the MPD K9 Unit thanks you, the Madison Police Department thanks you, the citizens and visitors to the Greater Madison Area thank you. Please Keep Officer Eric Disch and the Disch Family in your thoughts.