Retiring Eagle has special place with Atlantic City police

Fletcher Cox officially announced his retirement from the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.

"After much reflection, I have made the decision to retire from the game of football," he wrote in a statement. "I gave everything I had to my team and this city. i don't know what's next for me but I do know that I'm forever grateful for my time here in Philadelphia and with the Eagles organization."

That future likely will include continued visits to Atlantic City and the John "Sonny" Burke Canine Training Center in Corbin City.

The defensive tackle donated two K-9 dogs to the Atlantic City Police Department.

Carlo recently graduated the academy with his handler, Officer Robert Reynolds. The team was one of three from Atlantic City who recently graduated the academy.

The dog is trained in patrol operations and narcotics detection. He and Reynolds also received the John “Sonny” Burke Award, voted on by the members of the class.

Reynolds and Carlo ride in a car renumbered to honor Cox.

K9-91 for Cox's jersey number, 91.

Last year, Cox donated his first dog: Narco, a then-2-year-old Belgian Malinois partnered with Officer Adrian Nunez-Santos.

"My love for animals, my love for canines runs deep," Cox said at that time.

He was spending much of the off-season at the center, training his own personal protection dog.

Jack is a Belgian Malinois that Cox had for about five years, since the dog was 1.

He not only found a place for his dog and his love of their work at the center, he found family, Cox said.

Atlantic City Officer Amir Hughes, an instructor at the academy who recently received his Scent Supervisory Trainers Certification. 

"Amir is like a brother to me," Cox said. "We met and we hit it off."

It was not clear if retirement would bring Cox around more often.

Mayor Marty Small — a diehard Eagles fan — said he did reach out to Cox, but had not yet heard back.