Springfield Police K9 "Buddy" has died, the department announced today.  Buddy was first assigned to the narcotics unit in June, 2003, and eventually worked with the US Drug Enforcement Administration's Highway Drug Interdiction Team.   In Buddy's 8-year career, he was responsible for finding nearly 900 pounds of marijuana, 7 pounds of cocaine, 11 pounds of meth, and more then $6.5 million in cash.
Buddy was buried at the Police Service Dog Memorial on Lone Pine.
The department currently has 6 service dogs and is looking for a replacement for Buddy,
which will bring the total number of service dogs to 7. 
Buddy had been assigned to the narcotics unit in June, 2003 to Officer Kent Shipley. He was also assigned to the DEA’s Highway Drug Interdiction Team, primarily working on Interstate 44. 
K9 B
uddy was responsible for 894 pounds of marijuana found, 7 pounds of cocaine found, 11 pounds of meth found, and $6,521,938 in cash recovered. Buddy was certified in marijuana, heroin, ecstasy, meth and cocaine identification.  Buddy was buried at the Police Service Dog memorial on Lone Pine south, the news release said.