Police officer surrendered his retired K9 partner to an animal shelter


A police officer in Mississippi was demoted after his employer discovered that he had surrendered his recently retired K9 partner to an animal shelter. K9 Ringo worked with the Jackson Police Department until he retired in October. The department assumed that the highly trained police dog was enjoying retirement at his handler’s home, but they discovered that the dog had actually been surrendered by Officer Carl Ellis.


The fallout

Officer Ellis’ decision to surrendered the retired K9 to an animal shelter resulted in a reassignment. In a statement, posted by the Clarion Ledger,  the department addressed the disappointing situation:

“The Jackson Police Department respects and holds our canines with high regard just as we do any other officer within our department. They are family, and we do not feel they deserve anything less than a loving home in retirement.”

On October 23, the department congratulated Ringo on his retirement from police duties:

Jackson Police Department

#JPD welcomes its newest officers to the force…canines, Angel and Nadia, reporting for duty!! We also congratulate canines, Ringo and Alpha, on their recent retirement from a job well! They now get to enjoy civilian life while the others continue the necessary job of police work. Another way #JPD is committed to protecting the citizens of @CityofJacksonMS. #CaninePower#JPDPoliceDogs #CriminalsBeware

New protocols have been implemented to prevent future retired K9s from being handed over to shelters.

K9 Ringo was reported to have been adopted from the animal shelter – no word on exactly where he is today.

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