‘It’s dog gone time to relax ...’: Sheriff’s department hosts retirement party for four K-9s

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA/Gray News) - A sheriff’s department in Indiana hosted a bittersweet retirement party for four super special team members.

The Allen County Sheriff’s Department hosted a retirement party to highlight four K-9s who worked for numerous years in Fort Wayne.

The four K-9s that were honored at the Allen County Courthouse were K-9 Bo, Kody, Jinxx, and Chaos. The four-legged officers each received departing gifts that celebrated their achievements as they transitioned into retirement.

The department posted photos of the party on Facebook, saying “It’s dog gone time to relax ... ” and “Congratulations, and thank you for your service to our department and community. We wish you the longest, healthiest, laziest, retirement chasing squirrels instead of bad guys!”

Jason Schmieman and his 8-year-old German shepherd Bo have worked side by side since 2016 when they started training camp.

“I spend more time with him than my family,” Schmieman said. “He’s with me at home, he’s with me on the job.”

He says his favorite memories working with the K-9 were finding missing children and returning them home. He also says the duo made many arrests together, but searching and rescuing were his highlights.

“It’s bittersweet, he was my partner for eight years,” Schmimeman said. “Now he can be a real dog. He can lay at home and not do anything.”

“He’s just a house pet now,” Schmimeman said. “He stays at home, lays inside, be a regular dog.”