10/10/12 In mid-August Plymouth Police Chief Jim Cox told members of the Board of Public Works and Safety that the city’s K9 Rex was retiring. Eight and a half year old, K-9 Rex has been with the department for five years partnering with Officer John Weir. Rex’s retirement comes at this point due to medical issues. His rear hips were giving him issues from jumping in and out of the vehicle and he was experiencing troubles with his eye-site. It had then been determined that Rex had cancer with a pretty wide spread case. Just a few days later he was put down by the veterinarian.
On August 27th Officer Weir went to Vohne Liche Kennals in Denver, Indiana and picked out his next partner. Jax, a 3 ½ year old Malionis. Right after Labor Day the pair went back to Vohne Lieche Kennals for five weeks of training.
Jax is trained for tracking, to attack and to sniff out narcotics.
Jax is Officer John Weir’s third K9 partner with the Plymouth Police Department. He also had Rex and before that Benny. The PD started the K9 program in 1994.
The new K-9 does come to the city at a cost of $15,000 and thanks to the support of the Plymouth American Legion, Acura Pharmaceuticals, Bomarko, Hoosier Tire, Plymouth Foundry and US Granules the purchase of the new K-9 and supplies needed are covered by their generosity with no tax dollars.
Jax started his new job with Officer Weir and the Plymouth Police Department on Monday.
