EDMONDS — He selflessly served the Edmonds Police Department for nearly a decade.
He retired with 520 deployments, 166 arrests and 113 evidence finds under his collar.
Police Dog Hobbs was recognized for his service at a police promotion ceremony Thursday.
Chief Michelle Bennett presented Hobbs with a retirement medal. He received a round of applause and a cake in his honor.
His handler was also commended. The black German shepherd has partnered with Sgt. Jason Robinson since joining the force in 2013. Robinson named the dog after Roy Hobbs, a character in the baseball novel, “The Natural,” that was made into a Robert Redford movie.
The “Happy Retirement” sheet cake read “There goes Hobbs, the best there was in the game,” decorated with an icing rendition of the dog and a baseball mitt.
Pushing 12 years old, Hobbs is ready for a life of playing fetch.
“Police work, they live for it, but it’s a pretty stressful job overall,” police spokesperson Sgt. Josh McClure told The Daily Herald. “He can let his body relax a little bit. We ask these dogs to be very courageous and they do an amazing job.”
This leaves Ace as the only canine currently on the Edmonds force, which plans to add another dog.
“They are a wonderful community engagement tool while also protecting and serving. They always come to work ready to find the next bad guy,” McClure said.
Hobbs assisted law enforcement all over Snohomish and north King counties, fearlessly pursuing suspects.
A career highlight was the 2017 apprehension of two armed subjects who had committed a take-over robbery of a business in Mountlake Terrace. Hobbs and Robinson searched for multiple hours in a driving rainstorm, refusing to quit until the suspects were apprehended.
Hobbs was a regular at public events.
“He’s a great community builder,” Edmonds City Council member Dave Teitzel said. “Kids love him. He’s a beautiful animal. He’s going to be missed.”
Hobbs at times appeared on the department’s social media: “A note from K9 Officer Hobbs” on Facebook warned people not to leave pets in a hot car.
His retirement post drew numerous comments thanking him for his service.
Hobbs will continue to live with Robinson and his family.
“He has taken care of me for years, and now it is my turn to take care of him as he gets to be just a dog,” Robinson said in a news release. “Like most former K9 handlers, I am sure I will roam the PD halls telling glory stories of our over 500 deployments gone by.”
On the police scanner Thursday evening, a dispatcher radioed a message congratulating Hobbs and his handler.
“Out of service,” she said. “Good boy.”
Andrea Brown: 425-339-3443; abrown@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @reporterbrown.
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