Being stabbed by a suspect in 2009 wasn't enough to kill Citrus County Sheriff's Office K-9 officer Mito, but this year's attacker - cancer - was.

CCSO Deputy Mito, winner of the Medal of Valor at the CCSO employee awards ceremony this year, was put down today following a long battle with cancer.

In a brief note to his fellow law enforcement officers, Deputy Jim Davis, K-9 Deputy Mito's handler, wrote, "For those who remember K-9 Mito, I had to put him down today, due to losing the battle with cancer. He will be missed."

K-9 Deputy Mito, who was stabbed with a long knife on March 23, 2009 in Crystal River, stayed at home with Deputy Davis following treatment and recuperation at Dunnellon Animal Hospital. The suspect, Dominic Giacobbe, 26, was shot and killed by a CCSO deputy during the incident.

After deputies confronted Giacobbe, he brandished a weapon, a large knife, and Deputy Davis released K-9 Deputy Mito to help apprehend Giacobbe.

Giacobbe stabbed K-9 Deputy Mito, then charged deputies with the knife. Shots were fired, and Giacobbe was killed.

Deputy Mito received a knife wound that was nearly fatal, coming within about one-half inch of his heart.

Deputy Mito was later retired from service.

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