Saying Goodbye to K9 Officer Zzisa
We are saddened to announce the passing of K9 Officer Zzisa, who served as an ordnance detection dog with the University of Pennsylvania Police Department (UPPD) from September 2014 to June 2024. Zzisa supported the community alongside her partner Sergeant Sean Mackey, retiring last month after 10 years of dedicated service.
Vice President for Public Safety Kathleen Shields Anderson shared, “We are saddened to announce the passing of K9 Officer Zzisa, who served with great distinction with the University of Pennsylvania Police Department. Partnered for ten years with her handler, Sgt. Sean Mackey, Zzisa helped to ensure the safety and security of our entire community. We are forever grateful for her service.”
Named in honor of 9/11 victim Salvatore J. Zisa, Zzisa first worked with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for three years before joining the breeding program at the Penn Vet Working Dog Center (WDC). While with the WDC, Zzisa performed as a breeding female, giving birth to their first litter of nine puppies. She then partnered with Sergeant Mackey and joined the UPPD on September 1, 2014, as a certified ordnance detection and evidence detection canine. As a sworn member of the UPPD, Zzisa worked diligently to ensure the safety and security of the University City community. She supported many special events on campus, including Penn Relays and Penn’s Commencement Ceremony, where she was often called upon to inspect unattended packages and perform building sweeps. Zzisa was also a fixture in attendance at volunteer opportunities, including K9 exhibitions at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and supporting vaccination drives in the Philadelphia community during the COVID-19 pandemic. She enjoyed undertaking regular patrol of Penn’s campus and the surrounding area, meeting and making many new friends along the way.
Zzisa’s battle with cancer ended on July 23rd at Penn Vet’s Ryan Veterinary Hospital, where she was honored with a police farewell tribute by her fellow K9 officers and handlers, UPPD Officers, and Penn Public Safety personnel. She was surrounded in love by Sgt. Mackey and the entire Mackey family. Our gratitude to the kind and dedicated veterinarians, technicians, and students at the Ryan Hospital, and the amazing team at the Penn Vet Working Dog Center.
Our thanks to the many Police Department K9 Units who participated in Zzisa’s final salute, including Abington, Folcroft, West Chester University, Haverford Township, Lansdowne, Gloucester County Sheriff, Bucks County PA Sheriff, Bucks County Corrections, Lower Merion, Radnor, Delaware River Port Authority, SEPTA, and the University of Pennsylvania.
The team at Penn Public Safety are fortunate to have worked with Zzisa. We offer our condolences to the Mackey family.
