Rexi, a Gloucester Sheriff’s Office canine, and his handler, GSO Deputy Phil Lutz, were at Gloucester’s Tractor Supply on Saturday where county residents had the opportunity to offer both their best wishes for Rexi’s retirement.
A posting on the sheriff’s office Facebook page in November had announced Rexi’s retirement after three and a half years with the GSO. The announcement was made “with a heavy heart,” which is what Lutz displayed as he explained why the dog was retiring from service.
Lutz said Rexi had an old back injury, which he did not show symptoms of until November. Although Rexi had passed health screenings in the past, the most recent X-rays now clearly showed the damage.
Lutz said he believes the injury occurred in Afghanistan, where Rexi worked for three years with U.S. armed forces at a forward operating base prior to joining the GSO. What Lutz knew was that the damage meant it was time for his buddy to retire.
As a surprise for Lutz, his fellow officers had arranged for Tom Hendrickson of the U.S. War Dog Association, to join Rexi’s retirement appearance on Saturday.
Hendrickson presented Rexi with the U.S. Military Working Dog Service Award, a decoration awarded to military dogs who participated in combat. Hendrickson also presented certificates to Lutz and Gloucester Sheriff Darrell Warren.
Hendrickson is an officer and K-9 trainer with the Hampton Police Department. His training group has included Rexi and Lutz, and he had the highest of praise for Rexi’s abilities in the area of law enforcement as well as his service to the military.
GSO Sgt. Brad Simmons was also on hand and spoke of how highly trained Rexi had been for military service. When the K-9 was returned to the states, Simmons said he underwent training that tweaked his abilities to make him useful to law enforcement.
In his short 3.5 years with the GSO, Lutz said Rexi had been deployed over 1,970 times for narcotics, suspect tracking and evidence searches. He has also participated in several narcotics sweeps through local schools.
Lutz said Rexi has tracked over 23 miles, as measured by his GPS tracker, and apprehended five wanted individuals. Lutz usually has Rexi on a lead, but has let him loose to chase at least two suspects.
Lutz found one suspect with his hands in the air, a signal to Rexi to stand down. He said Rexi knocked the other suspect to the ground, where he stayed with his hands above his head until officers arrived. He has never bitten anyone, other than his targets outfitted in bite suits for training purposes.
Rexi has helped in the seizure of over $21,000 in illegal narcotics, Lutz said, and will be greatly missed at traffic check points. Lutz said most drivers immediately give up any drugs they have when they see that Rexi is on scene. The dog’s efforts overall have led to the arrest of 85 persons during his career in Gloucester, Lutz said.
Rexi is a large dog with an intimidating pose, but he has another side. “He’s a very social dog, and that’s unusual,” said Simmons. Lutz deemed him “an app-
roachable patrol dog” who loved interacting with the community and participating in public demonstrations of his abilities.
Lutz said the GSO is looking to replace Rexi, either through the K9s4Cops program that provided him or via another source. He predicted the office will have another patrol dog secured by spring. K-9 Duke, a young bloodhound, is continuing to serve the GSO.
Lutz said Rexi will spend his retirement with him and his family, “eating ice cream and lounging around the house.”