Allen County Sheriff’s Department holds K-9 retirement party

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA) - On Tuesday, the Allen County Sheriff’s Department hosted a retirement party to highlight four K-9s who worked for numerous years in Fort Wayne.

Jason Schmieman and his eight-year-old German Shepard 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.”

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

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