Beloved son, brother, father, grandfather and husband
Kevin John Kocher, 60, passed away October 31, 2017 at home
with his loving wife, Cynthia Cobb Kocher.
He is preceded in death by his nephew William ‘Willie’ Whitney, father
James Kocher and brother Newell Kocher.
Survived by his mother Mary Gates, brother James Kocher, sister Lynda
Kocher Bennett, children Kevin A. Kocher, Opal Kocher, Alex Monroe, Richard
Monroe and grandchildren Arabelle Kocher and Fia Sheler.
Kevin retired from the Pentagon Police Department in 2009.
Previously, he worked at Lorton Prison for 18 years until its closure and was
also a Deputy and Bloodhound handler at the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s
Department for 23 years until the MS forced his retirement.
He dedicated his life to his faith, family and to Law
Enforcement and Search and Rescue K9 handlers worldwide. Kevin created a method of training called
‘The Kocher Method’ that has saved lives & apprehended criminals throughout
the world. Kevin co-founded the
InterNational Bloodhound Training Institute (www.inbti.com) to further his
method, which now has instructors in the United States and many other
countries. He is also the author of the book, “How to Train a Police Bloodhound and Scent Discriminating Patrol Dog”
which has now been published in 7 languages. He traveled tirelessly even as
Multiple Sclerosis took hold of his body to share his method and his faith. A
humble servant, he taught free of charge as a vessel of God’s work and for the
greater good of humanity.
During his time as a K9 handler, Kevin was successful in
numerous high-profile cases including murders, two serial killers, abductions,
rapes and robberies. His first find was recovering the body of 14-year-old
Alexander E. Sztanko. While working for Lorton Prison he was instrumental in
the search for escaped inmate and convicted murder Thomas A. Wilkes Jr. Of the
many cases that haunted Kevin throughout his life were the missing Spotsylvania
girls Sofia Silva, and Kristin & Kati Lisk. He made a promise to the family
of Sofia Silva to never forget her. He
created the Sofia Silva Life Saving Award, which has been presented by her
sister Pam Silva Grimes, to instructors and handlers to recognize those K-9
units who have performed with a determined sense of duty and responsibility by
assisting in saving a life.
Kevin’s legacy of faithful service to the Lord,
self-sacrifice and humility will never be forgotten by all who have benefited
by K9 teams trained with his method and by the INBTI instructors and members
who will carry on his work. Even as MS
attacked his body; his heart and spirit could not be held down. He trained K9 handlers first with the aid of
a cane, then with the help of a walker, and then still while in a
wheelchair. Even after being bedridden,
he mentored students and instructors online.
Services will be held up on the mountain he loved so much in
Ulysses, Pennsylvania the first weekend in June. More information will be provided via
Facebook including places to stay closer to time, or you may contact
the.inbti@gmail.com to request the information.
All are welcome to attend.
Memorials can be made to the International Bloodhound Training Institute
(INBTI) to be used as a scholarship fund.
Online condolences may be expressed at
www.olneyfuneralhome.com.
