West Fargo Police Department’s K-9 ToSti passes away unexpectedly

West Fargo, North Dakota – The loss of one of their own is being mourned by the West Fargo Police Department.

The Department informs WDAY Radio on Saturday that K-9 ToSti tragically passed away due to an unanticipated medical emergency while off duty.

Dutch Shepherd K-9 ToSti was a 7-year-old from Holland. He was teamed with handler Officer Ben Orr when he joined the West Fargo Police Department in November 2015.

Over 800 times saw the deployment of K-9 ToSti for jobs including drug detection, suspect tracking, building searches, and item recovery.

“K-9 ToSti was a loyal companion and dedicated his life to ensure the safety of his handler, fellow officers, and the residents of West Fargo,” said Chief Denis Otterness. “He was a valuable member of our department and will be greatly missed.”

The public is encouraged to line the south side of 4th Avenue East in front of West Fargo City Hall at 11 a.m. on Friday to see the procession for ToSti. Starting at 45th Street, the procession will travel west on Main Avenue before turning south onto 3rd Street East and then east onto 4th Avenue East. At the West Fargo Police Department, the procession will come to a conclusion.

K-9 ToSti has been sent out to assist the Red River Valley SWAT, the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigations, the North Dakota Highway Patrol, the West Fargo Police Department, the Fargo Police Department, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, the Moorhead Police Department, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, the Red River Valley SWAT, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.