Mahmoud, 8, has become the first NYPD K9 ever brought back from retirement.
The Belgian Malinois rejoined the force in August under a new handler, Detective Jeremy Lucca, after spending roughly two months in retirement alongside Detective Kirk Boone, his original partner. Boone died of natural causes in July shortly after retiring himself, according to officials.
NYPD dogs typically retire with their handlers because the pairs have worked and lived together for years. Boone’s family, however, believed returning Mahmoud to active duty would honor the detective’s legacy, Lucca explained.
“Unfortunately, he passed away and his dog obviously retired with him,” Lucca said. “But to honor that and to honor his legacy, the family thought it would be most fitting to have his dog come out of retirement and continue the service.”
Lucca, who had known Mahmoud during the dog’s time with Boone, described the assignment as deeply personal. Boone had been his friend, and he had heard stories about the dog’s working style.
“So I knew his characteristics,” Lucca said. “I just didn’t know exactly how he works and operates – just from hearing what Kirk Boone would talk about. So we’re learning and growing together.”
Mahmoud’s name carries its own weight in NYPD history. He is named after Officer David Mahmoud, Boone’s former human partner in the 75th Precinct, who died of 9/11-related cancer in 2010. Boone had served in that same East New York, Brooklyn precinct before joining the Emergency Service Unit.
Lead ESU K9 trainer Detective Scott Mateyaschuk noted how these connections have resonated throughout the unit. “And so it’s a round circle here having all these things connect, and it’s been a real inspiration to guys here as well, because Kirk was such a mentor to everybody,” he said.
Mahmoud has wasted no time returning to the grind. Since his reinstatement, he and Lucca have covered major events around the city. “We helped cover the US Open, the United Nations General Assembly,” Lucca said. “We have some details coming up the rest of the year. And yeah, we’re going to still hone his skills and work together and hopefully get certified in a couple of the specialties.”
The dog is also trained in cadaver detection and drug detection, Lucca said. He and Mahmoud are currently completing a search and rescue certification program that they hope to finish next week.
“It’s an absolute honor to carry on a part of Kirk Boone and also Officer Mahmoud with K9 Mahmoud,” Lucca said.
Mateyaschuk described Mahmoud as energetic, curious, and friendly, noting that the brief retirement made his return relatively smooth. “It brings back the legacy of Kirk Boone, and he was just a great guy all around,” Mateyaschuk said.
The Detectives Endowment Association praised both the dog and his original handler. DEA president Scott Munro called them “selfless heroes” and said of Mahmoud’s return: “It’s an amazing way to carry Kirk and David’s legacies forward.”
Lucca, who has about a year remaining before he reaches 20 years of service, expects Mahmoud to stay with him until that milestone. “So if I do leave at 20, he’s going to be retiring with me,” he said. At that point, Mahmoud would be roughly 10 years old — the average retirement age for NYPD dogs.
Mateyaschuk painted a peaceful picture of that eventual retirement. “Dogs just hanging around, you know, and not coming to work, not jumping in and out of cars, not on perp searches, not any of this stuff,” he said. “The stressful life they lead … They’ll probably just hang out in the backyard and, you know, be a dog.”
Mahmoud and Lucca are scheduled to continue working details around New York City through the remainder of the year.