Roseville’s K-9 Mateo remembered by police as a ‘fiercely loyal partner’

The Roseville Police Department’s K-9 Mateo died Feb. 1, just days before his planned early retirement, the department said.

Mateo was a German shepherd imported from Europe in 2019 that trained with Officer Kyle Gruchow. Over the course of the dog’s career, the pair completed 1,300 hours of training, 1,000 deployments and were responsible for the arrest of 153 suspects.

Mateo was found to have an aggressive cancer during a routine veterinary check in December, according to the Roseville Police Department. He had been scheduled to retire Feb. 3.

The Roseville Police Department wrote in a Facebook post that Mateo’s rapid decline in health spurred “the difficult decision was made to honorably lay him to rest.”

“K-9 Mateo was a fiercely loyal partner with a tenacious spirit, proving that heart and determination matter more than size. His service and sacrifice will not be forgotten, and his impact on the Roseville community will be felt for years to come. He will be deeply missed.”