Correction: In the original article, it was incorrectly reported police dog Coco was retiring this year. The featured image was removed. 

In 2013, Kent State police dog Coco became the first K9 to serve at the Kent State Police Department.

The dog has responded to hundreds of calls over its nine years of service and continues to work for the department.

The German shepherd is specifically trained in bomb detection and responds to calls throughout Ohio. Whether it is a critical incident or a political rally, Coco has been ready to assist when needed.

“When I started here, we didn’t have a K9 unit, and it was something I was really passionate about,” K9 handler Sgt. Anne Spahr said. “It was really an exciting time to be the first handler and to have the first K9. I was the only female handler in Portage County.”

Spahr was in charge of bringing the first K9 unit to the Kent State Police Department, so she established a close bond with Coco over the years.

Spahr said she has seen Coco slowing down a bit last year, but she does not have an exact date for the dog’s retirement.

“She is just a ball of energy, just always ‘go, go, go,'” Spahr said. “She’s still really willing to do the job, still really excited to do the job. She’s just getting a little more tired after work.”

Spahr has taken up a new project, training Coco’s brother, Salem — the newest addition to the police department’s K9-Unit. She remains eager to continue her work as a K9 handler.

Erin Sullivan is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].