The Thurston County Prosecutor’s Office on Thursday celebrated the retirement of its most-beloved and longest-serving employee, relative to their lifespan.
Marshal, a 12-year-old black lab, retired from his role as courthouse facility dog on Thursday, Aug. 13, after 10-and-a-half years of service — roughly 75 dog years — to the Thurston County Prosecutor’s Office.
“We’ve hit that time where he’s been with us for over a decade, certainly made a huge impact, but the other nice thing is he has, I think, started a legacy with us,” said Thurston County Prosecutor Jon Tunheim.
Marshal was born Dec. 27, 2013, at a guide dog organization in Australia, and was sent to Maui at 8-weeks-old to begin training with Assistance Dogs of Hawaii.
A couple years later, Wendy Ireland, administrative services manager for the Thurston County Prosecutor’s Office, proposed adding a courthouse facility dog to the Thurston County Prosecutor’s Office.
Courthouse facility dogs are professionally trained dogs who provide a calming influence for witnesses and victims, particularly children, during the investigation and prosecution of crimes.
Ireland brought her proposal to Victim Services Coordinator Kim Carrol, who was fascinated by the idea.
“The thought of actually coming to work every day to have a coworker with four legs was kind of intriguing,” Carrol said.
Tunheim had first heard about courthouse facility dogs at a recent conference, and liked the idea for the Thurston County Prosecutor's Office.
“What I heard was how significant that dog was in terms of improving the experience of victims as they try to navigate the criminal justice system, and I thought, ‘oh, it would be so cool to have something like that in our office,’” Tunheim said.
With Tunheim’s support, Ireland and Carrol submitted an application to Assistance Dogs of Hawaii for a courthouse facility dog in 2015. While they expected a lengthy wait, they were surprised to hear back from Assistance Dogs of Hawaii within a couple weeks offering to partner them with Marshal.
Marshal was almost 2-years-old at the time and had completed his training.
“He needed a job, and we needed a dog. Perfect fit,” Carrol said.
The Thurston County Prosecutor’s Office, with approval from the Thurston County Board of Commissioners, agreed to send a team to Hawaii to train with Marshal and bring him back to Thurston County in December 2015.
“What a return on investment that was,” Tunheim said. “Marshal came back and literally hit the ground running. Of course, Marshal never really runs.”
Marshal spent his free time and weekends with Ireland, but came to work with Carrol and accompanied her into interviews with victims and witnesses.
“It just allowed a space for the the victims to be able to relax, settle a little bit, be a little bit more grounded, and allow for them to get their thoughts together in order to be able to actually, as I say, find their voice and be able to actually speak about what happened,” Carrol said.
Marshal helped comfort and support hundreds of victims and witnesses over the course of his career.
One in particular that stood out to Carrol was a 7-year-old girl who was trying her hardest to be brave, but needed a little extra help. When suggested that she should try to talk to Marshal instead of the interviewer, the child sat down next to Marshal and put her hands on either side of his face, holding onto his floppy ears.
“She stared straight into those big brown eyes, and there she found her voice. She got justice that day,” Carrol said.
That girl’s story is just one of many Carrol has about children Marshal has helped, she said.
Marshal’s impact went as far as Las Vegas, where, accompanied by Ireland, he comforted victims and witnesses of the 2017 mass shooting.
His presence was also a balm on Thurston County Prosecutor’s Office staff, who took joy in having Marshal visit after he clocked out.
“Marshal has brightened so many lives just by coming to court,” said Victim Advocate Sherry Landon.
Landon serves as handler for Marshal’s successor, Sky, who joined the Thurston County Prosecutor’s Office in 2024.
With Marshal’s retirement on Thursday, Sky now takes over as the office’s primary courthouse facility dog.
Marshal will live out his retirement with the Ireland family, who formally adopted him in a ceremony officiated by Judge Mary Sue Wilson on Thursday.
Carrol has an open invitation to visit Marshal, and he is still expected to be a frequent sight around the courthouse — though naps will be his new top priority.
To Marshal before his vest came off for the last time to be replaced with a “just adopted” bandana, Carrol said, “Marshal, we love you. We're so proud of you. Now it's time. It's time for you to sleep in, take slow walks, and go on grand adventures.”
