End of Watch: Retired County K9, Colonel, Passes Away

It is with deep sadness that we inform you that K9 Colonel, the retired Cheyenne County Sheriff's Office canine passed away unexpectedly at his home on June 2, 2019.

His first few years of life remain a mystery, including his birth date. What we do know is that he was a German Shepard that ended up on death row in an animal shelter. His crime, destroying his previous owner's brand new couch when left alone at home with no supervision.

Moving forward, no one wanted to adopt him and who could blame them. He sounded like a pet owner's worst nightmare. Fortunately, the owner of the shelter knew a lady named Sharon that had always told him she was looking for the "world's worst pets" for her canine training program. Thus K9 Colonel began his police service as a "mutt" that was rescued from an animal shelter and taken to the Southern Star Ranch Boarding Kennel & K9 Training Center in Florence, TX in early 2011.

The Cheyenne County Sheriff's Office proudly added K9 Colonel to its Deputy Roster in June 2011. K9 Colonel was approximately three years old when he began his career in law enforcement. He was always a hit with everyone who met him, especially the youth, and loved interacting with them during educational programs.

Colonel had many accomplishments during his tenure. One was never having failed any of his annual required recertification tests. Another was that he was documented in a DEA bulletin as the first confirmed canine to alert and indicate on the presence of the odor of illegal narcotics on a shipment of gold. Another big day in his life was an alert and indication on a semi-truck and trailer hauling cars that resulted in a seizure of 150 pounds of marijuana.

K9 Colonel worked side by side with his handler, Sgt. Adam E. Frerichs, until he retired from active duty in January 2019. K9 Colonel spent the remainder of his life on the family farm. He was a dedicated partner, greatly loved, and as such, will be greatly missed.

Rest easy buddy, we've got the watch from here.