After seven years of exemplary service, one of the Hawaii Police Department’s smallest officers retired Friday.
After seven years of exemplary service, one of the Hawaii Police Department’s smallest officers retired Friday.
Rory, a 10-year-old springer spaniel and narcotics canine, began working for the Hawaii Police Department in 2015, when he was 3 years old.
Since then, he helped to remove more than 60 pounds of narcotics from West Hawaii streets and recovered more than half a million dollars.
“To an uneducated eye, Rory does not look like your typical narcotics police canine,” said Vice Lieutenant Edwin Buyten in a police news release.
“He was one of our secret weapons.”
Area II K9 Supervisor and Vice Detective Chad Taniyama said in a statement that despite Rory’s small size — he was mistaken for a personal pet during his most recent K9 certification — he has been able to recover 35 pounds of methamphetamine, 2 pounds of heroin, 3 pounds of cocaine, 20 pounds of marijuana and more than $500,000 throughout various investigations.
Buyten said Rory is still energetic at 10
years old, but he was retired out of consideration for his age and health.
“We want him to have a good quality of life in his retirement,” Buyten said.
Now retired, Rory will live with the family of his most recent handler, Officer Stephen Kishimoto Jr.
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