The Bellevue Police Department reported that Jack, a retired Police K-9, died peacefully on Sept. 20.

Jack served Bellevue residents for more than seven years between 2007 and 2014 alongside his handler, Officer Tim Stoutt. He lived with the family of Detective Alex Slusser for more than four years after his retirement from dedicated service to the Bellevue community.

Jack helped capture more than 60 criminals during his service with Bellevue police.

Bellevue Police Department’s K-9 unit dogs are brought into the police force when they’re about 18 months old. Bellevue police have their own master trainer, Officer Brad Knudtsen, who trains the dogs for police work.

“To say that Jack was intense would be a gross understatement,” Knudtsen wrote about Jack. “Those of us that knew him and worked around him had a healthy respect for Jack’s capabilities, both in the apprehension and tracking skill sets. Jack was one of those dogs that made you earn his respect. Tim Stoutt would be that first to tell you that Jack was a challenge to work, but he caught criminals, and that is what it is all about.”

Bellevue police typically maintain three dogs for their K-9 units with one trainer each. The dogs often develop a close relationship with their handlers and are normal pets when they’re not catching criminals, according to K-9 unit Sgt. Robin Peacey.

“They’re in the house and among other animals and kids,” Peacey said. “They’re much a pet and a family member when they’re not at work.”

The K-9 units are used in violent or serious crimes when a suspect has fled. The dogs will track the suspect’s scent provided they have an article of clothing or other item to identify the scent.

“Really what it comes down to is good police work,” Peacey said. “Making sure that the officers who first responded to the scene have a good location of where they saw the suspect last. The dog has a great way of ruling out scents… So I think it’s a big misconception that these are just dumb animals. They’re really smart and we don’t give them enough credit when they do the work that they do.”

Bellevue police typically retire their dogs around six to seven years, but Peacey said it can be dependant on the dog.

“We obviously don’t want to work a dog to the point where they can’t have a retirement,” Peacey said. “If we can give them years after service, that’s our goal… But if they’re healthy and they’re able to keep going without it jeopardizing their long-term health, then we’ll keep working them.”

Jack was an exception. He retired when he was nine years old and lived to be 13.

“[Jack had an] awesome transformation from working K-9, never having been an indoor dog, to spoiled house dog who had an affinity for birthday parties (he turned 13 this past June) and opening Christmas presents,” Slusser wrote of Jack. “My wife and I are comforted knowing that we gave Jack an amazing four-and-a-half-year retirement, full of snacks, sleeping in bed with us and plenty of woods and yard to sniff and play in.”