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Died – 9/27/18
Handler – Officer Jeff Smith
Yesterday, the Lehi City Police Department said goodbye to one of own retired K9 partners. K9 Robbie, succumbed to cancer after a short fight. He was a great partner and member of the department and will be missed. The following is from Robbie’s handler: Today our family lost our dog Robbie, but Robbie was more than just a normal dog. If you didn’t know, I got Robbie about 5 years ago as my partner at Lehi City Police Department. 5 years ago when I was in the process of selecting my K9 partner, I tested several dogs at a kennel where dogs were imported from Europe to be sold as police dogs. When I came to Robbie’s kennel, I noticed he had a calm and stable personality. As I tested Robbie to see how he would fit my personality and the needs of the department I knew that Robbie was going to be a great fit! He loved his toys and the handlers that were helping me test Robbie by taking bites from him told me he had a crushing bite! I wanted to feel this bite for myself and sure enough, he bit hard! A few months later Robbie and I hit the streets where Robbie proved to be a fantastic narcotics detection dog, in fact, I felt like this was definitely his specialty! Robbie’s very first drug find at work was a quarter pound of meth hidden in Whopper boxes! Robbie’s indication, when he would find the drugs was like a hydraulic system. Robbie would slowly sit down as he anticipated his toy popping out at any moment from where the drugs were. Sometimes he wouldn’t even sit all the way as if he forgot what he was supposed to do mid-indication because he was so focused and excited about the drugs he had just found! Robbie and I were a great team and were very successful in seizing large quantities of drugs including marijuana, meth, heroin, cocaine, ecstasy and mushrooms. I attribute a lot of my success on the street to Robbie and his incredible nose for drugs. Robbie was not only a great dog out on the street, but he loved doing K9 demonstrations for the community at schools, churches or any other function we were asked to present at. Before every demonstration while getting in the truck, I would ask Robbie excitedly if he was ready to go “show off” for the kids!? Robbie would get very excited like he knew he was going to get all the attention he could handle from the people he was “showing off” to. He knew he was a good boy and loved to be told or shown that from everyone! Robbie was gentle and was petted by thousands of people, mostly elementary-aged kids when Robbie and I would teach them about saying no to drugs. I believe this is one of the biggest impacts Robbie had on the community and the future of this community. After a few years of work, the rigorous job got to him. Robbie got an injury to his shoulder that wouldn’t allow him to work anymore because he couldn’t train like he needed to. Robbie was retired and came to live with his family to enjoy his retirement. Robbie loved playing with and humoring NY children as they gave him commands to sit, lay down and drop the ball so they could throw it for him again. Robbie loved meeting the kids at the corner of our fence and stick his nose out until he could smell the kids get close enough, then he would turn his body so they could scratch his sides and his belly. This was a pretty consistent routine for him while the kids were in school. After a couple years of retirement, Robbie was recently diagnosed with cancer. It was a very short time after he was diagnosed that he lost his fight and passed away. Robbie was loved by so many, especially me and my family who will miss him greatly! Be a good boy up there Robbie, and a final “Love ya buddy!”
