Paris, Tenn.–While one of the Paris Police Department’s K9s has retired, another K9 has been recertified and a search is on to replace Kinzie.
Lt. Mike Ramos’ K9 Kinzie has retired due to back and hip issues she has suffered. Although Kinzie is unable to perform her duties as a police dog, she “continues to be lovingly cared for by her handler and the city of Paris. She still has a good quality of life, she is just unable to continue working for the Paris PD,” according to city officials. “We want to say thanks to Kinzie for her service to the City of Paris Police Department,” they said.
Meanwhile, Sgt. Jamie James and his K9 Drago were recertified last week during the National Police Working Dog School hosted by the Henry County Sheriff’s Office and Sgt. Ricky Wade.
Drago came to work for the city of Paris in 2017 and since that time, he has received five certifications.
Paris Police Chief Ricky Watson told RadioNWTN that Police Officer Chad Andrews has been chosen as the next K9 handler for the department. “We’re in the process of searching for a K9 partner for him. We want to find the right one for him and that process sometimes can take four months.”
Watson, who was a K9 handler himself when he was an officer, said Paris Police consider the K9s a very important part of the department.
“They are considered just as much an officer as those wearing a uniform,” Watson said. “Past and present K-9s have served the City of Paris well and have been a companion to their handlers as well as a useful tool in drug detection,” Watson said. “Many offenders have been arrested and prosecuted due to the great job of these K9 Officers and their handlers. The taxpayers and citizens of Paris and Henry County should know that most of the up keep and care is a direct correlation between those drug offenders and the fines they pay”.