K-9 Heidi retires after 6 years of service

Vicksburg, Miss – K-9 Heidi retired yesterday, June 6 at eight-and-one-half-years-old after six years of service.

The prolific K-9 is retiring early due to some health issues including arthritis, according to Sheriff Martin Pace. Heidi’s handler, Deputy Dustin Keyes, will keep Heidi and help the retired K-9 enjoy her best life.

Beside Deputy Keyes, Heidi has compiled an impressive list of assisted arrests and rescues over the years. At Monday’s meeting of the Warren County Board of Supervisors the Sheriff read off a partial list of those accomplishments, including being honored as the Top Cop of 2020.

During K-9 Heidi’s time with the Warren County Sheriff’s office she been attributed with approximately 40 felony arrests, tracked 9 missing persons, tracked 31 suspects, and $110k seized in cash and 2 vehicles.

Of the many accomplishments of Heidi’s career, Sheriff Pace recalled the time they received a report of a nonverbal elderly man who had wandered into the woods behind the home. The family had been looking for the man for an hour before calling the Sheriff’s office. Once officers arrived on scene, Deputy Keyes and Heidi were called in. The two located the man within 10 minutes. The man had tripped and fallen and due to his illness had been unable to respond to his family’s calls. Thanks to Heidi’s prowess as a tracker, that man’s life was saved.

Deputy Keyes new K-9 partner, Reign took their first shift on Friday.

On deputy Keyes, the Sheriff Pace had this to say: “[Deputy] Keyes is a dedicated law enforcement officer, and has really found his niche with canine. He loves to work with the animals and they obviously love to work with him. The partnership is an asset to Warren County, not only to for apprehending criminal suspects, but also for tracking lost persons and the countless school programs that the two of them have been involved in through Heidi’s career.”

A local Jeep Club held a send off Thursday evening for the K-9.