RICHMOND COUNTY — A retired Richmond County Sheriff’s Office K9 who spent a decade assisting with criminal investigations and search-and-rescue efforts has died.
The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office announced the passing of 832 Colonel Tom Parker, known as “Parker,” a bloodhound who served the agency alongside his handler, Detective Paul McDole.
According to the sheriff’s office, Parker was born April 25, 2015, and arrived in Richmond County in October 2015 to begin training with McDole. After completing his training, Parker became certified through 832 Deputy Dogs, the organization that donated him to the Sheriff’s Office.
During his career, Parker assisted with numerous cases, including criminal investigations and search-and-rescue deployments. The sheriff’s office said one of his first cases involved locating a missing juvenile in Scotland County.
Bloodhounds are known for their strong sense of smell and are commonly used in tracking and search-and-rescue operations. The sheriff’s office said Parker also completed additional training with the FBI, further developing his tracking abilities.
In addition to serving Richmond County, Parker assisted surrounding counties when requested, according to the sheriff’s office.
Parker retired from the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office in 2025 and continued living with McDole until his death Wednesday, July 15, 2026.