Isanti County Sheriff's Office to hold funeral procession, service for K9 Karma

The Isanti County Sheriff's Office will hold a funeral procession and service to honor K9 Karma on Thursday.

According to sheriff Wayne Seiberlich, a procession of squad cars and public safety vehicles will begin at 6 p.m., traveling north on Highway 65 from the Anoka County line.

"It will go through the city of Isanti along County Road 5," Seiberlich explained on Tuesday morning. "We chose that route because Karma and his handler, Deputy [Jacob] Miller, lived in the city of Isanti, so that will allow people within the city to pay their respects."

Seiberlich said the route will then head north on County Road 10, passing the area where Karma last tracked two suspects in a narcotics investigation-turned-pursuit case on Aug. 7.

The procession will take back roads into Cambridge, where a short funeral service is anticipated to start at about 6:30 p.m. at the Isanti County Government Center.

"It's going to be informal, for the most part," Seiberlich said. "It will consist of Karma's last call over the radio, we will have a flag presented to the Miller family, there will be a bagpiper that will play 'Amazing Grace,' and then we'll end with a short prayer and invite the community into the government center for a slideshow viewing and refreshments."

Karma was pronounced deceased on Aug. 8, with the cause of death determined to be heat stroke.

"We are still grieving," he said, "We're getting through it, and we're doing it as a team. We're stronger together."

Seiberlich said support is continuing to pour in from the Isanti County community and beyond as the sheriff's office mourns the loss of K9 Karma.

"It's unfortunate that something tragic like this has to happen for us to see it and realize how much good there is in the world, but, man, I'm so thankful for it," Seiberlich said.