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ST. GEORGE — After six years and over 400 deployments, Washington County sheriff's K-9 Nero has retired.
On Tuesday, Nero, a 7-year-old Belgium Malinois, and his handler, deputy Cody Shumway, were recognized by the Washington County Commission while Sheriff Nate Brooksby gave highlights of the K-9's service.
Nero joined the sheriff's office in 2018 and has a record of 432 law enforcement deployments, 185 arrests attributed to sniffing out drugs and the discovery and retrieval of nearly 100 pounds of narcotics, including methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl, as well as other drugs.
Brooksby also noted the close bond that forms between a K-9 officer and their handler.
"Our K-9 handlers stay with their dogs longer than their own families," Brooksby said. "They take them home. They bring them to work. It's a huge commitment."
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