K9 Cliff received an emotional send-off this month as Buckeye police and partner West Valley law enforcement canine teams came together to celebrate his retirement.

For six years, the Belgian Malinois worked alongside his handler, Officer Dave Smith, removing dangerous drugs from the streets, locating wanted persons, and playing a critical role in keeping Buckeye safe.

The retirement ceremony kicked off with Cliff’s final radio call. The police dog joined Smith in their patrol cruiser to hear the dispatcher pay tribute to Cliff’s career.

Chief Larry Hall then presented Cliff and Smith with a plaque and dog tag marking Cliff’s years of service and recognizing him as a veteran of the Buckeye Police Department. Toys, treats and lots of pets were also included.

Like all Buckeye Police K9s, Cliff had completed canine academy which involved hundreds of hours of training in drug detection and integration into police operations. K9 Cliff was trained to detect marijuana, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, hashish, and ecstasy.

The four-legged officer was also a big part of Buckeye police community outreach. Because he is a very social dog, Cliff loved to be pet by members of the public and help educate people about his training, capabilities, and unique role in fighting crime.