Spearfish Mayor John Senden will proclaim March 15, 2026, as “Scooby Day” during the January 5th City Council meeting, in response to a citizen request to establish a day to honor the late Spearfish Police Department Community Service Dog.
“Scooby was far more than a police department mascot, he was a symbol of kindness, comfort, and connection in our town. As a rescue dog who went on to live a life full of purpose and adventure, Scooby touched countless lives,” community member DeYon Creek wrote in a letter to the City Administration Office, care of the Mayor, dated December 3, 2025. She described how for years, Scooby visited local businesses, schools, and public spaces, becoming a beloved and recognized personality in Spearfish. “Scooby truly represented the best of what a community service dog can be, and establishing a day in his honor would be a meaningful way to recognize his contributions and ensure his legacy lives on. Thank you very much for considering this request. Scooby meant so much to so many of us, and we would be deeply grateful for the opportunity to celebrate his life in an official and lasting way.”
March 15, 2022, was the first official departmental notice after Animal Control Officer (ACO) Scott Beal brought Scooby from the Western Hills Humane Society, where he’d been living for approximately six months awaiting a forever home. The idea of a department pet had been an idea for some time to enhance its wellness program in place for first responders, and ACO Beal recognized a special spark in Scooby, which he would show to the community repeatedly in his role as four-legged ambassador.
“When Animal Control Officer Beal and Scooby became partners, we had no idea of the impact the two of them together would have on the community,” Spearfish Police Chief Collin Smith said. “Scooby brought so much joy to the department, our local schools and businesses, tourists during the summer, and everyone in general. Most of all, he was Officer Beal’s best friend and partner.”
ACO Beal’s 2022 Officer of the Year certificate describes:
ACO Beal has been instrumental in reshaping the relationship with the downtown businesses. His outreach efforts to the public and local business owners have established a personal level of interaction gaining him the respect and admiration of the citizenry and his co-workers. With the introduction of “Scooby” as a canine partner, the two of them have established an ambassadorship on behalf of the department, and the public response has been astounding.
Scooby died on December 1, 2025, just shy of his 12th birthday. “Scooby, you are cleared to go 10-7. Rest peacefully, you will forever be in our hearts,” the Spearfish Police Department Facebook post announcing his passing stated. The post, viewed more than 20,000 times, had 68 shares and more than 115 comments from people sharing condolences and memories of Scooby.
“This day would celebrate not just Scooby’s memory, but also the values he embodied: kindness, compassion, community connection, and the importance of rescue animals,” Creek wrote in her letter to the City.
All are invited to the reading of the proclamation, which will take place during the City Council meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday, January 5th, at Spearfish City Hall. See more by CLICKING HERE.
