The Warsaw Police Department announced Thursday the death of retired police K-9 Buddy. Buddy, a Belgian Malinois, was born April 11, 2004, and trained in Europe by Vohne Liche Kennels, according to a press release from the WPD. He joined the Warsaw Police Department June 5, 2006, and was single-handedly responsible for saving the lives of two individuals due to his superior tracking skills. He had well over 1,000 calls for service and performed demonstrations for thousands of people. Buddy’s criminal arrests were measured in the hundreds. Buddy was a dedicated member of the Warsaw Police Department and enjoyed protecting not only his handler but also his fellow officers, the press release states. Buddy was diagnosed with bone cancer just prior to his retirement Sept. 5, 2014. He continued to live with his handler, Captain Joel Beam, after retirement. Buddy’s fight with cancer ended Thursday with his handler and family at his side.
